Mother’s Day delegation to meet with immigrant detainees

Georgia Detention Watch members are in the final stages of planning a second solidarity visit to women detainees held in the Etowah Detention Center in Gadsden, Ala., on May 9.

Organizers chose the Mother’s Day weekend to highlight the cruel separation of families caused by the immigration policies carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Delegation visits immigrant women detainees in Alabama on International Women's Day, March 8. Photo: Mary Babington

At any given time, between 120 and 150 immigrant women are jailed at the facility in northern Alabama, pending deportation in most cases. Many have lived and worked in this country for years, and have U.S.-born children. It is not unusual for the father of their children to also be held in detention in preparation for deportation.

Although most of the women originated from Spanish-speaking countries, women from Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and elsewhere are also held there. They suffer in common from a lack of legal counsel, language translation, isolation from family and friends, and anxiety about their future.

According to a recent Pew Hispanic Center study, there are an estimated 4 million U.S.-born children who live in families with an undocumented parent. The practice of workplace raids, immigration sweeps in neighborhoods, racial profiling and the implementation of 287(g) agreements that authorize local police to enforce immigration law has created a crisis for thousands of children whose parents “disappear” while they are at school.

“The grossly commercial aspects of Mother’s Day—spending money to buy flowers and cards—mocks the deeply felt sentiments certainly many people have, especially in marginalized communities, for the vital role mothers play in maintaining their families,” said America Gruner, a leader of Georgia Detention Watch. “Our goal in making this visit is to express our solidarity with them, to let them know that we are working to change these inhuman policies.”

As part of the group’s first visit on March 7 for International Women’s Day, Operation Panty was launched. The only underwear available to the women detainees is an orange-mesh boxer that is uncomfortable and unsuitable for women’s personal hygiene needs. Hundreds of pairs of cotton briefs, contributed in response to the appeal, were distributed by the IWD delegation in March.

The members of the Mother’s Day solidarity visit will also bring with them underwear and other personal items to reduce the indignities of the women’s detention.

For more information, go to www.gadetentionwatch.org.