PRESS RELEASE: Vigil in Solidarity With the 123 Immigrant Men Detained at Sheridan FCI Prison

PRESS ADVISORY

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Person: Miriam Vargas Corona, Unidos Bridging Community, Executive Director

 503-583-6126, miriam@unidosyamhillcounty.org

VIGIL PLANNED IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE 123 DETAINED IMMIGRANT MEN AT SHERIDAN FCI AND TO DEMAND AN END TO THE FEDERAL POLICY THAT IS SEPARATING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES

When:             Monday, June 18

                                5:30pm-7:00pm

                        Program: 6:00pm

Where: Sheridan Fishing Pond South Side Park, SW Ballston Road, Sheridan OR 97378. From McMinnville, go west on Hwy 18 to Exit 33, exit right, then turn right again to go south on SW Ballston Road for 0.4 miles, turn left onto gravel road and drive about ¼ mile to fishing pond. Parking available at the fishing pond parking lot or at the Sheridan High School parking lot.

Who:  Unidos Bridging Community, Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, Yamhill County Democrats, Progressive Yamhill County, American Friends Service Committee, Causa Oregon, Rural Organizing Project, NW Workers Justice Project.

What: Oregon residents, faith leaders, and immigrant advocacy organizations will hold a vigil to lift collective efforts to support and advocate for the 123 immigrant men who were recently transferred to the Sheridan FCI prison. Immediately following Father's Day, a day of celebration for an important role in a family, the vigil calls on all advocates and allies to send a powerful message of outrage at this abuse of human rights and the unbearable familial trauma that the federal zero-tolerance immigration policy is causing.   

Background:  The Trump Administration’s “zero-tolerance policy” has resulted in the separation of immigrant families and rapidly expanded the practice of immigrant detention. Last week, Oregon advocates were notified that 123 adult immigrants, all male, are currently at FCI Sheridan. Pro bono attorneys from Innovation Law Lab report that as of June 14, 2018 upon the invitation of the Mexican Consulate, two attorneys were able to meet with 10 of the 123 individuals detained at Sheridan to provide legal orientation and advice. Almost all of these individuals have been denied access to phone use, for any purpose, for up to a month. Some have been separated from their children and spouses and lack information about their family members' whereabouts. Some have critical and untended medical needs. All were deprived of an advisement of their consular rights for nearly a month.

Unidos advocates for Latino immigrant families and builds bridges of support and understanding among Latino and non-Latino communities in rural Yamhill County, Oregon. For more info, visit http://unidosyamhillcounty.org/

###