Thread: GA: Demonstrators: Close prison for suspected illegal immigr

Demonstrators: Close prison for suspected illegal immigrants
By Jeremy Redmon
November 19, 2010

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

LUMPKIN – More than 70 demonstrators marched Friday morning from downtown Lumpkin to the federal detention center in Stewart County, showing their support for the suspected illegal immigrants being held there.

Some chanted the names of people who they say have died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Others called for the prison here to be closed and for one of its inmates -- Pedro Guzman -- to be freed. Pedro’s wife, Emily, said he has been held at the prison for more than a year while fighting deportation. As of September, the center was holding 1,890 inmates.

Among the demonstrators were members from several human rights organizations, including Georgia Detention Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia.

Eight of the demonstrators were arrested as they peacefully attempted to cross a “Do Not Enterâ€

[quote]And an ICE spokeswoman said Thursday: “ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference. We recognize that our nation's broken immigration system requires serious solutions, and we fully support comprehensive immigration reform efforts.â€