Inside Immigration Detention: Understanding Conditions and Human Impact

This September, the Forum Series focuses on a critical topic impacting immigrant and refugee communities: immigration detention. Titled “Inside Immigration Detention: Understanding Conditions and Human Impact,” this volume aims to illuminate the experiences of individuals within the GEO immigration detention facility in Aurora, the obstacles they encounter, and the broader human ramifications of these institutions.

Our objective is to establish a forum for education, contemplation, and discussion, enabling community members and advocates to gain a deeper understanding of the detention process and explore more compassionate alternatives.

We are privileged to present an outstanding panel of speakers who offer varied insights and personal experiences:

• Viviana Vethencourt, Clinical Director of RMWC, has substantial experience in mental health and community programs for underprivileged and immigrant groups.
• Andrea Loya serves as the Executive Director of Casa De Paz, an NGO committed to assisting immigrants released from the detention facility in Aurora.
• A representative from RMIAN will provide insights on initiatives aimed at enhancing incarceration conditions and advocating for humane alternatives to detention.
• A recently released immigrant mother of two will bravely recount her personal narrative and the enduring effects of her experience in the GEO facility.

Collectively, these perspectives will elucidate the complexities of immigration detention and foster a unified aspiration for dignity, justice, and compassion within our immigration framework.