PRESS RELEASE AND PRESS CONFERENCE
The Justice Mission supports Sheriff Tom Dart releasing immigrant detainees
A press conference will be held on Friday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m., at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, on 3442 W. 26th Street, in support of Sheriff’s Tom Dart consideration to stop holding immigrant detainees to be picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
“Holding immigrants who have committed only minor offenses, who post their criminal bond because they are willing to go back to Court to face their accusations is wrong. Not only the Cook County Jail incurs in excessive expending, but the whole judicial process suffers because ICE detainees are taken to other jails and forcefully miss their hearings on criminal courts. Cook County taxpayers should not be subsidizing ICE”, said Reverend José Landaverde.
Immigrants, even legal permanent residents, naturalized citizens and on a few occasions even U.S. born citizens from immigrant families detained at Cook County Jail are put on an “Immigration Hold” for 48 hours even if they post bond. This extends their jail time and the cost for Cook County.
The Justice Mission has been in the forefront of the struggle to stop this practice, which ends up in deportations, separation of families and suffering for the immigrant community.
Press contact: Rev. José Landaverde – 773-512-8015