Our MissionFamilies for Freedom is a New York-based multi-ethnic defense network by and for immigrants facing and fighting deportation. Read more

News and Annoucements

We Celebrate 10 years of Struggle & Support

December 11, 2012

A decade ago, three families came together to confront the largely invisible crisis of deportation. Together they broke the silence and overcame the isolation that many families face when one of their members is facing deportation. Creating an informal network focused on providing mutual support and education, the Shahani Family, Subhash Kateel, and Maria Muentes formed Families for Freedom (FFF). From these three founding families' vision grew the powerful organization we know today fighting on the frontlines of this nation's immigration debate. This is a slideshow of all the people involved over the past decade with Families for Freedom's work.
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News and Annoucements

10th Year Anniversary Fundraiser Slideshow

December 11, 2012
On November 9th hundreds of Families for Freedom members, allies and volunteers came together to celebrate over ten years of organizing to keep our families together. Together we dined, danced and honored the powerful work of visionaries Shahani family, Subhash Kateel, and Maria Muentes who founded Families for Freedom. You can view a photo slideshow of the party below. Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to all who volunteered and cooked food. For those of you who were unable to attend but want to support Families for Freedom you can still donate here.
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Event

Protest Private Prisons! Scopia Divest from GEO Group!

Join The National Private Prison Divestment Campaign, Families for Freedom, Enlace Int'l and others to protest companies that profit off the detention of immigrant communities. Matthew Sirovich and Jeremy Mindich’s Scopia Capital LLC, is one of the largest shareholder in the Geo Group (GEO), the largest company in our nation’s private prison industry. It also holds stock in Corrections Corporations of America GEO has been linked to cruel anti-immigrant laws in Arizona and Georgia as well as to abusive practices in immigrant detention facilities GEO runs for the federal government. Courts have found GEO responsible for wrongful deaths, sexual assaults, and other horrors in its tax-funded lock-ups.
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In the Media

Immigrants' rights group slams detention center Watchdog group calls for immediate closure

November 16, 2012
The Detention Watch Network on Thursday released 10 “Expose and Close” reports on facilities across the country housing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, saying the reports “detail the acute and chronic human right violations occurring in immigration detention in the United States today.” “These are completely inhumane places, and people should not be held in them,” said Emily Tucker, director of policy and advocacy for the Washington, D.C.-based organization. “They violate human rights, they violate civil liberties and we want them closed.”
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Detention Watch Network Launch New Campaign to “Expose and Close” Widespread Abuse at Etowah Detention Center, Calling it One of the Worst in the Nation

New Reports Highlight Pattern of Abuse and Demand President Obama Restore Basic Dignity
November 15, 2012

GADSEN, ALABAMA– The immigration detention system in the United States has grown drastically over the last 15 years and the appalling conditions in the detention centers that house immigrants have reached a tipping point.

President Obama made promises to reform this inhumane system in 2009, but the reality on the ground has not changed. Now, conditions at the jails that house immigrants have gotten so bad, the only option is to begin shutting them down.

News and Annoucements

Detention Watch Network Expose and Close Reports on 10 of the Worst Immigrant Prisons in the US

November 15, 2012
Everyday we talk to people who are being held in deplorable conditions in our nation's immigrant detention centers. We helped compile many of these testimonies for the Explose and Close reports. Detention Watch Network has coordinated the release of ten "Expose and Close" reports which detail the acute and chronic human right violations occurring in immigration detention in the United States today.
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News and Annoucements

For Immediate Release: WELLS FARGO DUMPS PRIVATE PRISON STOCK

October 25, 2012
Families for Freedom is proud to be part of the national Prison Divestment Campaign that organized for Wells Fargo to dump their prison stock. Today it was announce that Wells Fargo just divested from GEO group, the nations largest private prison company, that profits off of the misery of immigrants and their families. Hasta la Victoria!!!!
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Event

Families for Freedom 10th Anniversary Celebration

Families for Freedom is celebrating 10 years of organizing against deportations and fighting to keep our families together.

Honoring:

The Shahani Family, Subhash Kateel and Maria Muentes for their courage and vision in founding Families for Freedom

Friday, November 9th, 2012 7PM-11PM

Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South

Live Entertainment, International Food, Drinks, and Dance Party

Tickets with Dinner included $25

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Event

Apply for Fall Speakers Bureau

We are excited to announce that Families for Freedom is now accepting applications for our annual Speakers Bureau program. Speakers Bureau is a 10 week program with weekly classes focusing on the intersections between the criminal justice and immigration system, organizing against detention and deportations and public speaking and presentation skills. Graduates from the program go on to educate and organize their communities to create real safe spaces to empower immigrant families. Speakers Bureau starts October 15 and will continue for 10 weeks When: Monday Nights 6:30-9pm
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