Earthjustice along with 13 community advocacy groups who are part of the Shut Down Glades Coalition called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, FL for unsafe and unlawful living conditions. In a letter submitted to the federal agency, the coalition of groups expressed concerns over the misuse of highly concentrated industrial-grade chemical disinfectants in poorly ventilated living and eating spaces, harming the health of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, and violating the law governing use of such products. Signatories to the letter are calling for the immediate release of those who are being harmed at Glades County Detention Center and for the EPA to investigate the illegal and unlawful use of chemicals at migrant detention centers in Glades County and across the country.

Immigrants at Glades County Detention Center exposed to harmful disinfectant multiple times a day

Inmigrantes en el centro de detención del condado de Glades son expuestos a desinfectante tóxico varias veces al día

Nine immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention at the privately-owned Imperial Regional Detention Facility, filed a civil rights complaint with federal agencies in response to unsafe living conditions due to hazardous air, dust, mold, and drinking water contamination.

Advocacy groups demand Imperial Regional Detention Facility to release migrants amid exposure to toxic air, mold, and contaminated water

Grupos exigen que el Centro de Detención Regional Imperial libere a migrantes en respuesta a la exposición al aire tóxico, el moho y agua contaminada

Earthjustice, on behalf of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), sued in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to compel several federal agencies to respond to unanswered Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding the Florida Homestead migrant detention center for unaccompanied children.

A report by American Friends Service Committee and Earthjustice

Advocates sue federal agencies to learn more about Florida site with known contaminants, including arsenic, lead, and mercury

Defensores demandan a agencias federales para obtener más información sobre centro de detención con contaminantes como arsénico, plomo y mercurio.

Raul Garcia, Legislative Director, Policy & Legislation Team: “They have been put on notice. They know what they’re doing is wrong, and they just don’t seem to care. This is why it’s up to our government to step in and make sure that this stops.”

Earthjustice, along with Hispanic Federation, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, GreenLatinos, and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, joined the growing calls for the closure of the migrant child detention center located at the Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas, due to flagrant environmental contamination in the area. In a letter submitted to federal agencies, groups expressed alarm by the growing number of reports of dangerous and unsafe conditions for children at Fort Bliss and other emergency intake shelters. They also asked for the closure of this detention center. This comes as recent news reports have detailed horrifying conditions at Fort Bliss, including contractors ill-equipped to care for children, severe emotional distress, and inhumane treatment.

Advocates call on agencies to immediately end migrant detention on contaminated and unsafe military base

Los defensores piden a las agencias a que pongan fin de inmediato a la detención de migrantes en Fort Bliss, una base considerada contaminada e insegura

In a series of legal actions, Earthjustice has sought information — including environmental reviews of sites and analysis of the health and safety impacts on those in detention — on multiple migrant detention facilities to ensure the health of those in custody. Freedom of Information Act requests have revealed details of multiple proposed migrant detention…

Raul Garcia, Legislative Director, Policy and Legislation, Earthjustice: “I hope they take back what they see, what they smell and what they touch and act upon it with their jurisdiction.”

Environmental leaders are urging President Biden to strengthen a suite of federal standards to protect the climate and people’s health

Biden administration reportedly considering multiple contaminated military sites to serve as detention centers for children in immigration custody