Overview

The United States immigration detention system is deeply flawed, routinely denying immigrants of their human rights to due process, freedom from arbitrary detention, and humane treatment in detention. Immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom have no criminal history, are held in detention facilities by U.S. Department of Homeland Security as they wait for resolution of their immigration case. Individuals are frequently held alongside criminal inmates for months or years without the opportunity to have their detention reviewed in court. The Midwest Coalition leverages independent resources, collaborates on joint endeavors, and serves as a link between local, regional, and national detention reform efforts in order to promote a more just and humane system consistent with international human rights standards.

Goals

• • Advocate against arbitrary detention of immigrants.
• • Increase the use of alternatives to detention for immigrants in deportation proceedings.
• • End cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of individuals in immigration detention.
• • Reframe the public debate on immigration within the larger scope of human rights.
• • Create a constituency that promotes the human rights of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers

Actions

• • Members collaborate to submit Freedom of Information Act requests to Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) demanding detailed information about the immigration detention system and detention conditions.
• • The Midwest Coalition contributed to a National Immigrant Justice Center report on Human Rights Violations in the US Immigration Detention System that was submitted to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review in 2010.
• • The Midwest Coalition endorsed member organization The Advocates for Human Rights' report on US compliance with the human rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers which was submitted to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review in 2010.
• • In 2010 the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights co-authored a Year One Report Card with the National Immigrant Justice Center and Detention Watch Network analyzing ICE’s progress towards achieving its 2009 detention reforms and compliance with human rights law. 
• • The Coalition coordinated an effort targeting legislators to encourage passage of the DREAM Act in 2010.
• • In February of 2011 the Coalition hosted a strategic convening on Ending Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment by US Officials. The convening brought together a diverse group of over 120 advocates to strategize on human rights violations perpetuated by state and federal officials.