Protests Rise Against ICE Detention in Miami

Protests Across Indiana Demand End to ICE Detention at Miami Correctional Facility

Several protests took place across the state of Indiana on Saturday, focusing on the Miami Correctional Facility, where hundreds of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees are currently held. These demonstrations were part of a broader movement aimed at ending the detention of immigrants in facilities that many argue dehumanize those who are detained.

Fort Wayne was just one of many cities in Indiana that participated in the "End ICE Detention at Miami Correctional" protests. The events were organized by Indivisible Indiana, a grassroots group that describes itself as committed to resisting authoritarianism and rebuilding democracy through peaceful means.

Sandra Garza, founder of Fuerza Unida, emphasized that the Miami Correctional Facility, along with other similar detention centers, is dehumanizing those who are held there. She explained that these protests are not only about making their voices heard but also about building community and solidarity among participants.

“We’re gathered today in protest of Miami Correctional Facility, and also a lot of the other facilities that are out there dehumanizing immigrants, and even law-abiding citizens,” Garza said. “Law-abiding people who have tried to get their DACA, tried to go through visas, and are still being treated criminally through these facilities.”

Garza highlighted the importance of these gatherings in creating connections and fostering social change. She noted that the purpose of such protests is to meet people where they are and encourage them to participate in meaningful ways.

“Well, first of all, it’s important because it creates community, and part of the social change, like the idea of social change is meeting people where they are, where it comes from,” she said. “The different types of ways they are able to participate in social change. And the beauty of what they’re doing here is bringing people together through song, through community, through talking. And it’s so important that we do that right now, where a lot of times people feel alone, and helpless, and unable to do anything.”

Indivisible Indiana stated in a press release that over 70 percent of those arrested by ICE were never convicted of a crime. The organization also pointed out that the Miami Correctional Facility lacks the required staffing to manage the number of state inmates and ICE detainees held there. This issue was highlighted by an officer employed at the facility.

Garza said that the original intention with ICE was to humanely return people to their home countries. She expressed concern that the current system has strayed from this goal.

“If we really, truly look at what the original purpose of ICE and the immigration system, and things like that, was never to dehumanize people,” she said. “The original concept was to be able to treat people like humans, but also remember that we have laws that are within our country. And so, it was to get people back to their home countries in a humane way. We have now lost that humanity.”

Garza also noted that many of the protest attendees were religious individuals. She pointed out that many of them are followers of Christ and should be guided by the principles of treating others with compassion and respect.

“And a lot of the people who are gathered here today are people who are supposed followers of Christ… people who go to church every Sunday, and are supposed to be following the Word,” Garza said. “And so, following the Word means treating people humanely, treating people like they are all children of God. And that is what their goal is here today is to make sure people are treated fairly.”

She encouraged people to act with bravery and remain open to other ideas. Garza urged individuals to challenge themselves to be more courageous and engage in meaningful conversations with those who may hold different perspectives.

“…I think that it’s really important that everybody right now challenges themselves to be four percent more brave,” she said. “And that means talking to someone that maybe has a different idea than you do, clarifying things that they believe to be true that maybe are not true, and maybe just, really doing your research and figuring out why all of us are standing here today, versus judging us and putting people into a bubble.”

In total, 28 protests took place on Saturday across the state of Indiana, highlighting a growing movement against the treatment of immigrants in detention facilities.