750 immigration detainees on hunger strike at NW Detention Center

750 immigration detainees on hunger strike at NW Detention Center

By Associated Press Published: Mar 8, 2014 at 8:26 AM PST Last Updated: Mar 8, 2014 at 10:52 AM PST

http://media.komonews.com/images/110...ion_Center.jpg
This Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 file picture shows the "B" cell and bunk unit of the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement department has confirmed that 750 detainees at the Northwest Detention Center have refused to eat and say they are on a hunger strike.

An immigrant activist says the hunger strike started Friday as a protest of deportations as well as center conditions.

The center currently houses nearly 1,300 people, being investigated for possible deportation.

ICE spokesman Andrew Munoz says the agency respects the right of people to express their opinions without interference.

The detainees are under continuous observation by center staff and medical personnel.

Activist Maru Mora says the hunger strikers are seeking better food and treatment as well as better pay for center jobs.

ICE detention standards state that a detainee who has not eaten for 72 hours is considered to be on a hunger strike.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/R...249127891.html

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Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

750 immigration detainees on hunger strike at NW Detention Center

By Associated Press Published: Mar 8, 2014 at 8:26 AM PST Last Updated: Mar 8, 2014 at 10:52 AM PST

http://media.komonews.com/images/110...ion_Center.jpg
This Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 file picture shows the "B" cell and bunk unit of the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement department has confirmed that 750 detainees at the Northwest Detention Center have refused to eat and say they are on a hunger strike.

An immigrant activist says the hunger strike started Friday as a protest of deportations as well as center conditions.

The center currently houses nearly 1,300 people, being investigated for possible deportation.

ICE spokesman Andrew Munoz says the agency respects the right of people to express their opinions without interference.

The detainees are under continuous observation by center staff and medical personnel.

Activist Maru Mora says the hunger strikers are seeking better food and treatment as well as better pay for center jobs.

ICE detention standards state that a detainee who has not eaten for 72 hours is considered to be on a hunger strike.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/R...249127891.html

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that good go on a hunger strike that the usa tax money wake up us your lucky to have a roof over your head for what you did i don't feel sorry for any of you

They need to ship them out to their home countries before they starve - poor things.

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Originally Posted by Newmexican

They need to ship them out to their home countries before they starve - poor things.

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they should do this in mexico this is our tax money the us no food as I said i don't feel sorry for any of you

Hunger strikes seem to be popular nowadays. Mainstream media gives them plenty of attention but in the long run that's all that happens, gives them some attention. They will eat soon enough.

Northwest Detention Center detainees continue hunger strike over deportations

Published March 09, 2014 Associated Press

TACOMA, WASH. – The Northwest Detention Center locked down areas holding violent offenders as a precaution amid a hunger strike by detainees protesting their treatment and calling for an end to deportations.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said about 330 detainees refused to eat Sunday lunch. On Saturday, ICE said 750 wouldn't eat.

Meanwhile, immigrant-rights activists say a group of more than 20 detainees had been segregated in a small room. They believe it's retaliation for leading the strike that started Friday.

Attorney Sandy Restrepo says the wife of a detainee talked with her husband Sunday. That detainee said he and others were confined to one cell without bathroom breaks and couldn't move around.

ICE spokesman Andrew Munoz says he couldn't immediately comment on those reports.

The center houses nearly 1,300 people being investigated for possible deportation.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/09/northwest-detention-center-detainees-continue-hunger-strike-over-deportations/

Detained US immigrants refuse food

About 150 people are on the fourth day of a hunger strike at an immigration detention centre in the US state of Washington, officials say. . .

Hunger strike reaches Day 5 at immigration detention center

Written by The AP
Wednesday, 12 March 2014 07:17

http://www.wisconsingazette.com/imag...ion_center.jpg
A hunger strike at an immigration detention center in Washington continues.

A hunger strike at the Northwest Detention Center in Washington state that started with hundreds of participants was down to five detainees on its fifth day, and they were under medical evaluation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said on March 11.

The agency said 27 people had refused to eat at the start of the day.

They were placed under medical observation and separated from others at the Tacoma facility. By that afternoon, 22 detainees had eaten, and five remained on hunger strike and under medical evaluation.

ICE spokesman Andrew Munoz said he could not comment on the condition of detainees who are still participating in the hunger strike because of privacy restrictions.

Relatives and supporters of detainees rallied on March 11 outside the center, calling for immigration reform and better treatment for those inside.

Hundreds of immigration detainees began the strike Friday. At one point, about 750 of the center's nearly 1,300 detainees refused to eat.

Medical and center staff advised detainees on March 10 of the potential consequences of remaining on a hunger strike, including forced feeding, ICE officials said.

The agency's hunger strike policy says officials won't force anyone to eat unless it's determined to be medically necessary and ordered by a court. ICE's policy is to seek a court order to obtain authorization for involuntary medical treatment, according to the document.

"ICE fully respects the rights of all people to express their opinion without interference," Munoz said.

Activists say detainees are seeking better food and treatment. Some are seeking to be released on bond while their cases are heard.

Munoz said that ICE officials and detention center managers have been talking to strikers since Friday and that several issues detainees brought up are being addressed. Those include adding more items to the commissary and looking for ways to reduce prices.

Immigrant-rights activist Maru Mora Villalpando said detainees have reported that they have been intimidated for participating in the hunger strike. Some seeking asylum in the U.S. have been told their cases could be denied, she said on March 11.

"There have been no punitive actions taken against individuals who are participating in the protest," the agency said.

The privately owned detention facility south of Seattle is under contract with ICE to house people being investigated for possible deportation.

http://www.wisconsingazette.com/tren...on-center.html

RIOT: Guard lays a plate of empanadas in the center of 'hunger' strike zone ..

Last of WA detention center hunger strikers eat

Updated 4:14 pm, Thursday, March 13, 2014

SEATTLE (AP) — After six days of refusing food, the last four immigrants on a hunger strike at theNorthwest Detention Center in Tacoma have eaten a little bit of food.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says the four detainees had a few bites of breakfast Thursday morning, but they remain under medical observation because of how long they have been without nutrition.

The hunger strike began Friday at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma with hundreds of participants refusing to eat to call for better treatment and an end to deportations.

Immigrant-rights activists say detainees are seeking better food and treatment, as well as to be released on bond while their cases are heard.

The agency also says that four people skipped dinner Wednesday night in protest, but ate breakfast Thursday.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/art...at-5315600.php