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Defeat the Sensenbrenner Bill
March in upper Manhattan TO DEFEAT H.R. 4437 NOW
This Sunday, March 26, 2006 at 1:00 PM
We can and must defeat the anti-immigrant bill H.R.4437. We must put greater pressure to ensure it. The turnouts in Chicago, with more than 300 thousand people, and other samples of pressure, including the lobbying in Washington of pro-immigrants and defenders of the human rights groups, have had a tremendous impact in the internal workings of the Legal Committee of the Senate. Now there is the possibility that this committee will vote on a Bill that would open a route for the legalization of millions of undocumented people. Later, the proposal of the Senate will have to face the approved bill from the House of Representatives which is authored by the republicans James Sensenbrenner and Peter King.
Read more about the march
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Planning meeting for conference
Help us plan for this regional Equal Rights For ALL conference.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 7:00 PM
In January, a small group of activists from New York and New Jersey came together to start organizing a North East Regional conference for immigrant rights. The aim of the conference is to democratically formulate our alterative vision of equal rights for all, and plan organizing strategy behind that vision. We want to work with all activists who share a vision that “No One is Illegal”--equal rights for all.
Here is more information including location.
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NJCRDC MEETING - April 18
Come to the NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee meeting
Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:00 PM
At: Christ Church
5 Paterson Street, New Brunswick, NJ
Enter through the garden gate on Paterson Street.
Newcomers are welcome
You can get there easily by train or driving. See
directions.
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DHS contract
KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton,
awarded Department of Homeland Security contract
A Halliburton subsidiary has received a $385 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to provide "temporary detention and processing capabilities."
Read the announcement in Business Wire
or the more interesting story in
The New York Times.
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Passaic County Jail Protest
Protest Successful - Jail Lies
New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee and supporters conducted an orderly and well-attended protest in front of Passaic County Jail on Sunday, January 8. See Herald News report
However, according to conversations with detainees inside the jail, there was NO incident involving pepper spray or charges against detainees. We are awaiting clarification as to why the jail spokesman, Bill Maer, apparently lied to the Herald News reporter.
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Passaic County Jail ends immigrant detentions
Major news.
Due to controversy and protests,
the Passaic County Jail has terminated its contract with
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer detain immigrants at Passaic County Jail. This is a significant victory for civil rights and for the detainees. Passaic County Jail was the site of constant abuses of detainees� human rights. Equally important, the ending of this contract means that fewer places will be available for ICE to hold immigrant detainees, so fewer detainees will be held.
Read the news stories at the right starting with December 29th.
Read the NJCRDC statement and press release.
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Equal Rights newsletter
NJCRDC Equal Rights newsletter
The October 2005 newsletter is now available.
- NJCRDC meets with Monmouth Officials, visits Detainees.
- Hunger Strike at Passaic County Jail.
- Office of Inspector General Audits Detention Facilities.
- Massive hunger strike by immigrant detainees at Guantanamo.
You may read it here.
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Coming Events
See events that are coming up.
Click on "Calendar" at the left.
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Statement
Statement from New Jersey Civil Rights Defense Committee on OIG being expelled from Passaic County Jail,
August 17, 2005
Passaic County Jail has been an ongoing site of civil rights abuses against immigrant detainees. After the national press expose on the use of attack dogs at Passaic County Jail in November 2004, the Office of Inspector General announced an audit of the jail. We are, however, deeply concerned about the OIG's lack of commitment to a thorough and publicly accountable audit at Passaic County Jail. For the last eight months we have been diligently attempting to cooperate with the OIG only to be continually rebuffed. The OIG has not demonstrated a willingness to seriously investigate the abuses at Passaic County Jail. The lack of governmental oversight of the Department of Homeland Security contract at Passaic County Jail is deeply disturbing.
NJCRDC has repeatedly called for a termination of Passaic County's contract with DHS. The lack of government oversight is yet another reason that this contract should be terminated.
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Update on OIG Audit
OIG fails to cooperate with NJCRDC
Auditors from the OIG (Office of Inspector General) for the Department of Homeland Security have been in New Jersey conducting the long awaited audit of Hudson County Correctional Center and Passaic County Jail. Although we have done our best to cooperate with the auditors, NJCRDC has not been allowed to witness any interviews, although many detainees have requested a witness.
Thanks to all of you who volunteered to be witnesses. We regret that we could not use your services.
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Suicide at Passaic County Jail
NJCRDC Statement on Suicide at Passaic County Jail - February 17, 2005
NJCRDC was deeply outraged to hear of the suicide of Mr. Heq Sung Soo at Passaic County Jail on Wednesday, February 16, 2005. But we were not surprised. The negligent treatment by ICE, all the hospitals involved and the Passaic County Jail led to the death of an innocent man who could not speak English and was systematically denied appropriate medical care. The only possible result of holding innocent people as criminals without access to constitutional protection is torture and death.
The death of Heq Sung Soo is nothing less than a war crime. Those who lead ICE and Passaic County Jail must be held legally accountable for this death and all the illegal detentions of immigrants which have effectively shredded the Bill of Rights. We cannot remain silent without being stripped of our humanity.
NJCRDC continues to document horrible conditions at Passaic County Jail. Like Heq Sung Soo, many other detainees there are systematically denied appropriate medical care. They sleep in containers on the floor due to overcrowding. They are physically and mentally abused by jail guards and officials. Although the use of dogs to terrorize and torture has stopped, no one responsible has been prosecuted, and reports of beatings and abuse continue. Only the freeing of all the detainees and the end of the practice of detention without charge will stop the ongoing abuse, torture and death.
We call for an immediate investigation of all parties involved in Mr. Heq Sung Soo�s death. We call for an immediate termination of ICE�s contract with Passaic County Jail. We call for the immediate release of all the detainees. We must stop the torture now before another innocent person dies.
Additional Information
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Press Release
Immigration Authorities End Torture-by-Dogs of Detainees in US Jails
The immigrant rights� movement won a significant victory when the Dept. Of Homeland Security�s Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm directed that all jails in the US holding immigrant detainees cease to use dogs around the detainees. View the December 6 NJCRDC
press release
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NPR Reports
Daniel Zwerdling Reports on Immigrant Detainees at Passaic and Hudson
November 17 and 18 on "All Things Considered", Daniel Zwerdling reports on immigrant detainees at Passaic and Hudson County jails in New Jersey. Featuring interviews with Rosendo Lewis, who was attacked by dogs at Passaic, Hemnauth Mohabir, and other detainees. You can listen to show at Part I (11/17/2004)
Part II (11/18/2004)
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El Diario Reports
Eva Sanchis Reports on Immigrant Abuse
November 18 and 19 in "El Diario/La Prensa", Eva Sanchis reports on immigrant abuse at Passaic and Hudson County jails in New Jersey. Featuring testimoney of Rosendo Lewis, Mark Gary Hough, and Hemnauth Mohabir. Read the reports.
Spanish
More
English
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DETAINEE NEWSLETTER
NEW! Issue 2
Read and Distribute the Detainee Newsletter
Issue 2
Issue 1
This newsletter is a way to spread the word, by encouraging detainees to speak out and by making their stories available to a wider public.
We ask all our members and friends to help with the distribution of this newsletter. Please feel free to download a copy, e-mail it to friends and other organizations, print it, place it in public places, mail it, read it at local gatherings. Only with your help can we stop these injustices.
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STATEMENT ON TORTURE AND THE DETENTIONS
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PLEASE HELP
WE NEED SPANISH SPEAKERS for our Emergency Response hotline.
If you can help please contact NJ Civil Rights Defense Committee at
info@nj-civilrights.org
Organizing gets results... but it takes a lot of work. We have done a lot of work but there is still a lot of work to do. We need your help! Come to a meeting, join a committee, get involved.
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In The NewsMar. 1, 2006
U.S. Agrees to Pay Egyptian Man $300K For Post-9/11 Detention in Unprecedented Settlement
Democracy Now
Interview
Feb. 22, 2006
Citing subpar meals, service, sheriff fires jail's food provider
Herald News
Story
Jan. 23, 2006
Held in 9/11 Net, Muslims Return to Accuse U.S.
The New York Times
Story
Jan. 15, 2006
Countrovery surrounds detainees
Herald News
Story
Jan. 14, 2006
Victory at Passaic
Counterpunch
Article
Jan. 10, 2006
Rioting prisoners weren't detainees, says official
Herald News
Story
Jan. 9, 2006
Protest outside, 3 arrests inside jail
Herald News
Story
Jan. 6, 2006
Federal immigration detainees petition for release
The Associated Press (News Flash)
Story
Jan. 3, 2006
A jail in Passaic County, New Jersey, is pulling the plug on one of the largest illegal alien detention programs in the country.
CNN (Lou Dobbs Tonight --- scroll about half-way down to get to the story)
Story
Dec. 31, 2005
Detainees at jail decry 'retaliation'
Herald News
Story
Dec. 29, 2005
Passaic Jail ends housing immigrant detainees
Herald News
Story
Dec. 29, 2005
Passaic to stop holding immigrant detainees at jail
The Star-Ledger
Story
Dec. 29, 2005
Passaic County Jail no longer will house immigrant detainees
The Associated Press
Story
Dec. 23, 2005
Jail Officials Deny Beating
Herald News
Story
Dec. 14, 2005
Lawmakers Seek Probe into Alien Detainee's Death
National Public Radio (All Things Considered)
Story
Dec. 5, 2005
The Death of Richard Rust
National Public Radio (All Things Considered)
Story
Oct. 30, 2005
In City Jails a Question of Force
The New York Times
Story
Oct. 19, 2005
Jail ends kosher and halal meals
Herald News
Story
Oct. 1, 2005
Showdown at Sheriff's Plaza
Counterpunch
Story
Sep. 30, 2005
Reckless NJ Police Convoy Escapes VA Justice
theNewpaper.com (A journal of the politics of driving)
Article
Aug. 26, 2005
Speziale may allow review of jail conditions to resume
Herald News
Story
Aug. 26, 2005
Sheriff considers lifting ban on federal auditors at jail
Herald News
Story
Aug. 26, 2005
Detainee Justice
Bergen County Record
Op-Ed
Aug. 24, 2005
2 men say Passiac Jail denied them AIDS drugs
Herald News
Story
Aug. 17, 2005
Speziale boots feds probing alleged abuse of detainees
Herald News
Story
Jul. 20, 2005
Judge Dread
Counterpunch
Story
Jun. 29, 2005
Jail officials deny beating of immigration detainee
Herald News
Story
Jun. 9, 2005
America’s internal “gulag”-the imprisonment of immigrants in the US
World Socialist Web Site
Story
Jun. 3, 2005
Federal detainees, county headaches
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com)
Story
Apr. 26, 2005
Nowhere to go
Herald News
Story
Mar. 16, 2005
Immigrant detainee breaks fast in Passaic
Herald News
Story
Mar. 15, 2005
Jailed immigrant on hunger strike
Herald News
Story
Mar. 12, 2005
Judge rules businessman must leave
Home News Tribune
Story
Mar. 11, 2005
Deporting Lin would be unjust
Home News Tribune
Op-Ed
Mar. 11, 2005
Deportation case focuses on definition of torture
New York Times
Story
Feb. 25, 2005
Carcel de Passaic en la mira
El Diario
Story
Feb. 20, 2005
Brooklyn's Abu Graib
New York Daily News
Story
Feb. 16, 2005
Recently released from prison, Cuban refugees who came to the United States in the 1980 Mariel boatlift are left to fend for themselves
The Times-Picayune
Story
Feb. 15, 2005
12 Cuban detainees released in Newark following court ruling
Star-Ledger
Story
Feb. 12, 2005
Testimony danger is cited
Home News Tribune
Story
Jan. 25, 2005
Immigrant may get Feb. ruling
Home News Tribune
Story
Jan. 25, 2005
Expert: If deported, man faces torture
The Star Ledger
Story
Jan. 24, 2005
A Cry for Mercy
The Star Ledger
Story
Jan. 23, 2005
Tiananmen organizer faces U.S. expulsion
The Star Ledger
Story
Jan. 15, 2005
Detainee records request is denied
Herald News
Story
Jan. 12, 2005
Supreme Court Limits Detention of Immigrants
The Boston Globe
Story
Dec. 17, 2004
Borough backs store owner in deportation fight
Home News Tribune
Story
Dec. 7, 2004
Detainee rights battle
The Bergen Herald
Story
Dec. 7, 2004
Jails must stop using dogs near immigration detainees
News Day (Associated Press Article)
Story
Dec. 6, 2004
Celebran triunfo de inmigrantes
El Diario/La Prenza
Story
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