Man holds sign at protest for Freedom for INS detainees at 26 Federal Plaza
Title
Man holds sign at protest for Freedom for INS detainees at 26 Federal Plaza
Description
A man holds a sign with two slogans; on the left, the sign says “Freedom for INS Detainees!” and, on the right, it says “Human Rights for INS Detainees!” The demonstrator takes part in a rally for Freedom for INS Detainees, in front of the Federal Plaza Immigration Court and INS district offices.
Republican-controlled Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) in 1996, expanding the power of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to deport or indefinitely imprison immigrants. By 1999, the number of immigrants detained by the INS increased by 70%. [1] CAAAV organizing efforts focused on connecting the INS abuses to related organizational concerns of police violence and surveillance. Organizers highlighted the inhumane conditions of the Elizabeth and Wackenhut Immigration Detention Centers, in New Jersey and Queens, respectively.
On July 27, 1999, over half of the immigrants detained in Wackenhut initiated a hunger strike to demand humane conditions and the review of parole applications for those with pending political asylum cases. On August 1, 1999, CAAAV and other community organizations gathered in support of participants in the hunger strike. [2] For more information on the Wackenhut demonstration, see CAAAV item “Protesting INS Detention Center in Queens.” [3] Wackenhut staff kept participants in the strike isolated in solitary confinement and threatened them with immediate deportation. Emmy Kutesa remained the only hunger striker by Fall 1999. In support of Kutesa and other detainees, a coalition of community organizations, including CAAAV, came together to demonstrate outside of the INS district offices at 26 Federal Plaza. Collectively, protesters demanded human rights and freedom for INS detainees across the country. [4]
In “Asian Communities- Policing and Prisons,” published in CAAAV Voice issue Fall 1999, Eric Tang connects the anti-immigrant policies to their late-19th century predecessor, the Chinese Exclusion movement, as well as to the contemporary phenomenon of the the Prison Industrial Complex. [5] Tang contextualizes the development of the the Prison Industrial Complex and its effect on Black and Latino communities. In doing so, the article demonstrates CAAAV’s insistence on organizing in solidarity with other communities of color who are affected by police surveillance and violence.
Footnotes:
[1] “1996 Immigration Legislation,” CAAAV Voice (Fall 1999): 6. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/8bf58b30ba09cc4ad6d580d28fa12763.pdf
[2] Eric Tang. “Asian Communities- Policing and Prisons,” CAAAV Voice (Fall 1999): 6. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/8bf58b30ba09cc4ad6d580d28fa12763.pdf
[3] “Protesting INS detention center in Queens,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed October 19, 2024, https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/1855.
[4] Alisa Solomon. “Wackenhut Detention Ordeal,” The Village Voice. August 31, 1999. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://www.villagevoice.com/wackenhut-detention-ordeal/
[5] Tang. “Asian Communities”: 4.
Republican-controlled Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) in 1996, expanding the power of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to deport or indefinitely imprison immigrants. By 1999, the number of immigrants detained by the INS increased by 70%. [1] CAAAV organizing efforts focused on connecting the INS abuses to related organizational concerns of police violence and surveillance. Organizers highlighted the inhumane conditions of the Elizabeth and Wackenhut Immigration Detention Centers, in New Jersey and Queens, respectively.
On July 27, 1999, over half of the immigrants detained in Wackenhut initiated a hunger strike to demand humane conditions and the review of parole applications for those with pending political asylum cases. On August 1, 1999, CAAAV and other community organizations gathered in support of participants in the hunger strike. [2] For more information on the Wackenhut demonstration, see CAAAV item “Protesting INS Detention Center in Queens.” [3] Wackenhut staff kept participants in the strike isolated in solitary confinement and threatened them with immediate deportation. Emmy Kutesa remained the only hunger striker by Fall 1999. In support of Kutesa and other detainees, a coalition of community organizations, including CAAAV, came together to demonstrate outside of the INS district offices at 26 Federal Plaza. Collectively, protesters demanded human rights and freedom for INS detainees across the country. [4]
In “Asian Communities- Policing and Prisons,” published in CAAAV Voice issue Fall 1999, Eric Tang connects the anti-immigrant policies to their late-19th century predecessor, the Chinese Exclusion movement, as well as to the contemporary phenomenon of the the Prison Industrial Complex. [5] Tang contextualizes the development of the the Prison Industrial Complex and its effect on Black and Latino communities. In doing so, the article demonstrates CAAAV’s insistence on organizing in solidarity with other communities of color who are affected by police surveillance and violence.
Footnotes:
[1] “1996 Immigration Legislation,” CAAAV Voice (Fall 1999): 6. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/8bf58b30ba09cc4ad6d580d28fa12763.pdf
[2] Eric Tang. “Asian Communities- Policing and Prisons,” CAAAV Voice (Fall 1999): 6. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://archives.caaav.org/files/original/8bf58b30ba09cc4ad6d580d28fa12763.pdf
[3] “Protesting INS detention center in Queens,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed October 19, 2024, https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/1855.
[4] Alisa Solomon. “Wackenhut Detention Ordeal,” The Village Voice. August 31, 1999. Accessed October 19, 2024. https://www.villagevoice.com/wackenhut-detention-ordeal/
[5] Tang. “Asian Communities”: 4.
Date
September 9, 1999
Contributor
Digitized By: Cat Jung
Cataloged By: Tess Derby
Cataloged By: Tess Derby
Rights
Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.
Format
Photograph
Identifier
Photo583
Files
Citation
“Man holds sign at protest for Freedom for INS detainees at 26 Federal Plaza,” CAAAV Digital Archive, accessed December 28, 2024, https://archives.caaav.org/items/show/2394.