PHOENIX – Last week, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), alongside Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), hosted a community briefing in Central Phoenix titled “Stop Mass Detention Centers: An Arizona Community Oversight Briefing.”
The briefing included members of the community who have been directly affected by President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies, who shared their personal experiences and the profound impact these policies have had on their lives. The Representatives also provided an update on the current conditions of detention centers across Arizona and highlighted their ongoing oversight efforts to address inhumane conditions and strengthen accountability.
“It’s clear that ICE needs to be abolished. The Trump regime has turned it into its own paramilitary force that it’s using to terrorize communities and families all across the United States,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03). “My heart goes out to everyone who has been harmed by Trump’s cruel mass detention policies. Our fight isn’t over. In me, you have a promise that I WILL NOT support any additional funding for ICE, and I will continue fighting against these cruel policies until ICE is held fully accountable. ICE has no place in our communities.”
“What we've heard today is a call to action, a reminder that behind every statistic is a human being, a mother, a father, an abuela, a neighbor,” said Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07). “We cannot normalize a system where people are detained without dignity, where medical neglect becomes fatal and where corporations are profiting from human suffering. We will continue demanding transparency and accountability, and we will continue fighting for an immigration system rooted in humanity, fairness and justice.”
“The American people across party lines are demanding that we rein in ICE – that's why myself and Congresswoman Ansari and Congresswoman Grijalva continue to vote no on further ICE funding. The people want common sense immigration reform, reform that is orderly and fair, not quotas set up by Stephen Miller, not warehouse detention centers. We're going to continue fighting to push back against this administration and the reckless enforcement policies,” said Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04).
“What happened to my brother was tragic. What happened to my brother was inhumane. Denying his family access to see him until it was the last minute, the last 24 hours was wrong. While he was in a hospital bed for 10 days, all by himself. That was wrong. He had a family. Who loved him and would be happy to travel and be there with him. Thank you for supporting us to mobilize for this to happen and we need changes, we need big change in our system. Next time if somebody is sick in an ICE facility–the detention facility–the first thing they need to do is reach out to the family–communicate with the family. Allow the family to have access to the medical staff so they can communicate and know what’s going on. A toothache should not kill,” said Presly Nelson, Emmanuel Damas’ brother.
“For the past year, I have been fighting to ensure that Arbella “Yari” Marquez receives the medical care she needs while in detention. We demand her medical release immediately. Whatever it takes. Let us get her back to health so she can continue to fight her immigration case,” said Sonia Almaraz, partner to Yari Marquez and AZ-03 resident.
“I am bracing my family to move to Trinidad and Tobago because we would rather live abroad than stay in a country that would reject a veteran who had been prepared to give his life serving it,” said Tanisha Hartwell-Parris, wife of Marlon Parris, deported veteran and AZ-03 resident.
“I am here as a reflection of what our immigration system looks like. Fifteen years ago, I was labeled an ‘illegal immigrant’ and detained by ICE for over two months. Conditions in these facilities have only worsened since. DACA changed my life—it allowed me to earn a journalism degree, build a career as Communications Director at GreenLatinos, and marry my soulmate, Carly. Yet today, despite doing everything right, I still cannot move forward,” said Edder Martinez, formally detained AZ-03 resident and DACA recipient.
“I am a Colombian woman. I am a lesbian. I was treated like a criminal, even though I committed no crime. I came to this country seeking protection. And I was granted it. A judge decided that it was not safe for me to return to my country. And still I was kept locked inside the Eloy Detention Center for 15 months. Inside that place, my body began to break down. Eloy is not a place of safety. It is a place where abuse happens, where injustice becomes normal,” said Mariana, formally detained AZ-07 resident.
Follow @RepYassAnsari on all social media platforms and visit Ansari.House.gov to learn more.
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