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Texas Appleseed works to ensure that immigrants with mental disabilities receive justice and fair treatment in the immigration court and detention system.
Latest News
Texas Appleseed, with pro bono partner Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, has released a new report urging major reforms in the nation's immigration system to ensure fair treatment and due process for immigrants with mental disabilities.A quarter of all immigrants apprehended each year in the U.S. are sent to detention facilities in Texas, however the problems documented in the report are not unique to Texas. Poor quality care in detention, arbitrary transfer to detention facilities far away from family and other community and mental health supports, and due process failures are major challenges facing immigration detainees with mental disabilities.
Justice for Immigration's Hidden Population, 3.30.2010
HEADLINES:
Mental Illness Among a Hidden Population, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 8.11.2010
Stop the Mistreatment of Mentally Ill Immigrants in Detention, change.org blog, 6.29.2010
Special Report Reveals ICE Gross Treatment of Immigrants Suffering from Mental Disabilities, Latina Lista, 4.9.2010
Immigrants with Mental Disabilities Need Improved Protections, American Constitution Society for Law & Policy blog, 4.8.2010
The Dumping Point, The Texas Tribune, 3.30.2010
Disabled Immigration Detainees Face Deportation, New York Times, 3.29.2010
MORE MEDIA COVERAGE
QUICK FACTS:
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Immigration Court Locations: Dallas, El Paso SPC, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston SPC, Houston, Port Isabel, San Antonio
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Project Timeline
CURRENT / ONGOING: The U.S. Justice Department and Immigration Customs Enforcement are reviewing the following major recommendations in the Texas Appleseed report:
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Place immigrants with mental disabilities in the least restrictive setting while their immigration status is adjudicated.
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Provide appropriate mental health diagnosis and care in immigration detention.
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Move to an electronic medical records system to reduce medical error and improve prompt access to critical health information in the immigration process.
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Adopt consistent immigration court procedures to recognize and accommodate people with mental disabilities.
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Develop clear procedures to ensure safe domestic release or repatriation of immigrants with mental disabilities.
June 2010 Texas Appleseed holds four immigration judge and attorney trainings on issues related to immigrants with mental disabilities in immigration detention and court proceedings.
March 30, 2010 Texas Appleseed releases its immigration report findings.
Justice for Immigration's Hidden Population (March 2010)
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Read more...
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Pro Bono Partners & Funders
This work is made possible through the generous support of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health and the dedication of our pro bono partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP -- with special thanks to Project Coordinators Steven Schulman, the firm's Pro Bono Partner; Tony Nunes, and Phyllis Young. A grant from the American Immigration Lawyers Association Texas chapter is funding trainings for immigration judges and attorneys. |
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