[Pnews] ACLU Files for Injunction To End Retaliation Again NW Detention Center Hunger Strikers

[Prisoner News]

April 3, 2014

*ACLU Files for Injunction To End Retaliation Again NWDC Hunger Strikers*

Tacoma, WA - Yesterday the ACLU of Washington filed a temporary 
restraining order and an injunction on behalf of those being held in 
solitary confinement in retaliation for engaging in a hunger strike. 
"Rather than respond to the concerns expressed by detainees,"  the 
motion says,  "United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
threw individual hunger strikers into solitary confinement after falsely 
promising them that they would meet to talk about the detainees' 
concerns. ICE's arbitrary, retaliatory actions continue to violate the 
First Amendment rights of the Plaintiffs and other detainees who remain 
in segregation." They are seeking an immediate release from solitary 
confinement and a prohibition of "any further retaliation against 
detainees engaging in protected speech."

The lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Andres Ramirez-Martinez, Manuel 
Uriostegui, and Ericson Gonzales but relief is sought on behalf of all 
who are held in solitary for engaging in protected free speech, 
including engaging in a hunger strike. ICE has continued to place those 
on hunger strike in solitary confinement since the March 27th incident 
cited in the motion. Others in isolation include Jesus Gaspar Navarro 
who was removed from medical isolation to solitary immediately after 
ending a 25-day hunger strike; Ramon Mendoza Pascual who was just 
"convicted" of charges stemming from the fast in a hearing in which one 
ICE officer served as translator, witness and adjudicator; and Army Vet 
Hassall Moses, who is charged with inciting a work stoppage. Work is 
compensated at $1 per day and ICE and Geo, the owner/operator of the 
NWDC, allege that the work is voluntary.

The hearing on the temporary restraining order is set for 9:30 am on 
Friday April 4 at the Federal Court in Tacoma. The petitions cite case 
law that all people in the U.S. are entitled to freedom of speech. We 
refer you to the ACLU for details about the legal matters.

The facts as outlined in the complaint are as we reported earlier this 
week. Mr. Uriostegui says in his sworn statement,  "On Thursday, March 
27, 2014, several corrections officers entered the F-3 unit while many 
of us were on hunger strike. They told another detainee to come with 
them for a meeting with an assistant warden. The detainee left with the 
officers."

Then the officers returned. Mr Uriostegui continues, "Many of the 
remaining hunger striking detainees in the unit asked the officers if 
they too could join the meeting because they had their own reasons for 
joining the hunger strike and wanted to have the same opportunity to 
convey those reasons as the detainees who were selected to attend the 
meeting. A corrections officer agreed and then started to identify 
detainees who would also be allowed to attend the meeting." Mr. 
Uriostegui was among those who asked to speak with the assistant warden.

Mr. Uriostegui says he was tricked. "As soon as we were outside of the 
F-3 unit, I was handcuffed me and placed in administrative segregation 
where I am locked in an isolation cell for 23 hours a day. My cell has a 
bed, sink, and toilet and is not very big... I am also only allowed to 
shower three days a week and cannot participate in programming. I was 
not told why I was placed in administrative segregation, or if or when I 
would be released from segregation."

Eventually all three were given an administrative detention order 
without the required supporting evidence that charged them with being a 
"security risk" to themselves or the facility. The forms for all three 
state that they were identified by the staff intimidating others to 
engage in the hunger strike. Yet most of those who  volunteered to talk 
with the assistant warden. All three deny under oath that they 
intimidated others. Mr. Ramirez-Martinez was a food porter in his unit 
and he continued to serve meals even while he was fasting.

#

/Petition on behalf of Hunger Strikers and latest releases available 
at:// / 
<http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/>/www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike// 
<http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/2014/03/10/detention-hunger-strike/>

/Fund to support the families of human rights hunger strikers:// / 
<http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg>/http://www.gofundme.com/7orehg/

/April 5 Not1More Deportation Rally in support of the NWDC Human Rights 
Leaders -// / 
<https://www.facebook.com/Not1MoreTacoma/posts/241708986031832>/https://www.facebook.com/Not1MoreTacoma/posts/241708986031832/


Maru Mora Villalpando
Latino Advocacy
www.latinoadvocacy.org <http://www.latinoadvocacy.org>
206-251-6658 <tel:206-251-6658>

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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