Dozens of high-profile celebrities have signed a pointed open letter calling for the immediate closure of the ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas. Among the signatories are pop icon Madonna and gay actor Billy Porter. Also joining the list are actor Pedro Pascal, singer John Legend, singer Gracie Abrams, and film stars Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, Keke Palmer, and Jane Fonda.
In the missive, addressed to the U.S. government and the private prison operator, the celebrities, according to industry outlet Variety, denounce grave human rights abuses and the systemic neglect of children and families.
The letter cites reports of dire conditions inside the facility, ranging from contaminated meals and sleep deprivation to dangerous medical neglect. “No child should be imprisoned in an immigration detention center,” it states, underscoring the traumatic impact detention has on minors. “Children belong in school. Not in detention centers,” the letter asserts. The signatories call not only for the facility’s closure but also for the immediate release of everyone held there.
The letter was prompted by YouTube personality “Ms. Rachel” (Rachel Accurso), who, after speaking with detained children, described prison-like conditions.
Massive Tensions in the United States
The initiative forms part of a broader wave of protest spurred by recent reports of deaths in immigration detention and the hardening of immigration policy under the current administration. The public push comes at a time of mounting social strains in the United States.
Just this past weekend, organizers say eight to nine million people took to the streets in nationwide No Kings demonstrations to oppose the government’s current policies. Celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, and Billy Porter joined on stages and in the streets from Minneapolis to New York. (spot)
