Immigrant families and supporters announce a three-day walk to Crete in response to planned “detention center”

CHICAGO, IL – Immigrant Families, activists, and supporters will embark on a three-day walk from Little Village, Chicago to Crete Illinois. This action is in response to the “detention center” planned by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE), Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and the village of Crete.

Planners of the three-day walk stated that while immigrant rights advocates have been demanding an end to all deportations and immigration reform, the Obama administration has instead done the opposite; deporting over 1 million immigrants and pushing “Immigration Detention Reform.” ICE is currently planning to build at least five detention centers nationwide located in states that have a high concentration of immigrants (California, Texas, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey)

A press conference will be held to announce the three-day walk action to Crete, IL Wednesday, March 21^st at 10:30 a.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, 3442 W. 26^th St., in Chicago.

Families affected by the immigration system, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission/Justice Mission, Moratorium on Deportations Campaign (MDC) and other organizations will attend the press conference.

Background:

ICE is negotiating with the village of Crete and Corrections Corporation of America to build a new Immigrant Detention Center, a prison with the capacity to incarcerate 700-800 immigrants, just South of Chicago. The contract has not yet been signed – and until it is, this new prison can still be stopped. “Our families are being torn apart, so we come together and walk as one large family.” stated the Organizers’ website for the Walk to Crete. “Detention is about an open market in the business of selling human lives – Detention centers are a new prison experiment, an old product re-packaged in new ways.”

Participants in the walk will be available for interviews.

Itinerary for the 3-day Action

For daily updates visit: www.moratoriumondeportations.org

 

Friday, March 30

3-4 p.m.: Departure event

3 p.m.: Gather at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, 3442 W 26^th St, Chicago

3:30 p.m.: March together to Cook County Jail , 26^th St and California Ave. RALLY:  a gathering to make commitments about the future we want to build together – one which knows no detention or mass incarceration. Add your own sign. Wish the walkers a good journey!

4:30-8 p.m.: Walk through Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Wrightwood, arrive in Evergreen Park 

Saturday, March 31

9a.m. -8p.m.: Walk through Beverly, Blue Island, Harvey, Homewood, arrive in Chicago Heights – rallies along the way, times/locations TBA. 

Sunday, April 1

9a.m.-12 p.m.: Arrive in Crete

1-4 p.m.: Rally and procession in Crete, action at site of proposed Detention Center

6-7 p.m.: Return to Chicago