To: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security: Stop Using Private Prisons Now!

The Department of Justice recently announced that it would phase out the use of 13 private prisons due to safety and security concerns. However, the Department of Homeland Security is the biggest client of private prison corporations, using their facilities to hold immigrants in unconstitutional and inhumane conditions. We demand that the Department of Homeland Security terminate its use of private prisons immediately!

Why is this important?

The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that it plans to reduce, and ultimately end, its use of privately operated prisons.

While the Department of Justice decisions will impact 13 privately operated federal prisons, it does not affect the over 100 of privately operated prisons that the Department of Homeland Security uses to detain undocumented immigrants.

This means that the Department of Homeland Security will continue to use the same private prison operators over which the Department of Justice expressed "safety and security" concerns - subjecting thousands of immigrant detainees to the inhumane conditions of prisons owned by corporations like Corrections Corporation of America, the GEO Group, and the Management and Training Corporation.

Private prisons have a well documented history of abusive practices and human rights violations, which the Department of Homeland Security often disregards.

What is worse, private prisons often cut critical services, programs, and resources just to maximize their profits - leaving detainees without medications or other essential needs.

If we want to stop private prison corporations from abusing and profiting from the incarceration of human beings, then we need all federal agencies to end their use of private prisons.

We demand that the Department of Homeland Security decline to renew its contracts with private prison corporations!