Erika Andiola, Chief Advocacy Officer, RAICES:

This is important. Families with children at Karnes Family Detention Center are at imminent danger of contracting COVID-19.

Last week, we obtained audio from two fathers detained with their children at Karnes, a detention center in Texas. The conditions they describe are terrifying — widespread desperation, a total lack of information, no instructions on how to wash hands and stay safe. Some children are sick with the flu, others are throwing up and have diarrhea.

There’s no soap, no protective equipment, and no way to maintain a safe, six-foot distance.

LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES

If you are moved by the words of these fathers, join us in demanding the release of all detained families now. We’re asking for your help contacting ICE with the instructions at the end of this email.

All children deserve the right to medical care. Parents should not watch in horror as fever and nausea spreads among their children and the threat of the pandemic knocks on their door. Still, this is the reality of more than 700 immigrants at Karnes Family Detention Center, of the families who have fled horrors at home only to be met with the threat of death.

Detainees at other ICE detention centers have already come down with COVID-19. Many others are in quarantine for fear of exposure, and ICE staff themselves are sick with the virus.

This could spread like wildfire in the unsanitary conditions at Karnes. We need you to help us ensure everyone there is released to safe conditions.

Less than two weeks after a father that we represent took his own life out of fear, RAICES released these audio files today of families at Karnes to make their voices heard and remind everyone of the inhumane conditions at immigration prisons across the country.

The lives of immigrant detainees are at immediate risk. We don’t have another minute to lose.

Join us in demanding the release of all detained families now:

> Call the San Antonio ICE Field Office at (210) 283-4712
> "Hi, my name is _____ and I am calling to demand the release of all immigrant detainees at Karnes and Pearsall due to the imminent threat of COVID-19. If you don't, we are all at risk."

The time has come to Free Them All.

Erika Andiola
Chief Advocacy Officer
RAICES