The following article was originally published by Maru Mora Villalpando from La Resistencia on June 21, 2024.
Three detainees go on hunger strike at the Northwest Detention Center; as promise of bond hearings continue, actions reveal the repressive use of confined isolation in detention centers.
Tacoma, WA – Two days ago, La Resistencia – the only immigrant-led organization in Washington state fighting for the release of all detained immigrants – heard for the first time in more than a week from three hunger strikers who have spent the last nineteen (19) days refusing all food at the Northwest Tacoma Detention Center (NWDC). Lovepreet Singh, one of the hunger strikers, ended his protest after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) promised him a bond hearing. It was his second hunger strike at the Tacoma-based facility, operated by the GEO group, which profits from prisons.
At the beginning of his protest, Signh told La Resistencia: “They told me that if I don’t eat I will end up in segregation for refusing to eat. But talking to my cellmate we decided to accept the consequences and we are going to start the hunger strike again. My demand is to get a bail hearing to get me released. “I’m getting so depressed that my poor mom ended up in the hospital because of my situation.” Mr. Singh swore: “I will not eat until I am free.”
Mr. Singh’s cellmate, Said Aghai, also joined the 19-day hunger strike that began on May 31. Mr. Aghai had originally been taken to an airport on May 29 to be deported, but after refusing to sign his deportation papers, he was taken back to the detention center. He also told La Resistencia that he “would rather die of hunger than return to Afghanistan, to be tortured and killed.” Aghai agreed to end his hunger strike for the time being, with ICE promising that his case will move forward through the proper channels.
Lovepreet Signh and Said Aghai were unable to communicate with La Resistencia for most of their 19-day ordeal. A couple of days into their hunger strike, they were taken into medical isolation, where they were virtually denied access to the tablets they use to communicate with the outside world, including our organization. In fact, the detainees were not able to communicate their decision to end their hunger strike until La Resistencia learned of the result from another person.
A third hunger striker, Ahmadreza Amiri, joined the other two men’s hunger strike on the 11th. Mr. Amiri was charged with possession of a napkin that tested positive for methamphetamine. These allegations have been a constant complaint at NWDC since October of last year, and as a result, at least five people face between 30 and 60 days of “segregation” (better known as confined isolation). Ahmadreza Amiri started his strike in response to this violent and retaliatory action against him.
Yesterday he informed La Resistencia of his intention to end his hunger strike, but unlike in the case of Mr. Singh, he did so out of fear of further reprisals and not because his objectives were met.
A brief message from him reads: “I am no longer on hunger strike, they threatened me with more isolation. I will still be here in solitary confinement until next month. ICE didn’t come to talk to me at all.” These cases highlight the excessive use of solitary confinement as a form of retaliation against hunger strikers, even under the guise of medical care.
The fact that ICE ultimately agreed to grant bail to Mr. Lovepreet points to the fact that ICE has the power to release people at any time and approve bail. This type of response by ICE means that detainees are pressured to go on hunger strikes as a way to make ICE honor their right: to be released from detention while the case against them is pending. The three hunger strikers have yet to see ICE’s promises fulfilled. La Resistencia calls on the community to contact our Congressional delegation to ensure that ICE complies, that there is ultimately some type of congressional oversight process of ICE, and ultimately that the ICE and GEO Group Inc. contract. by the NWDC ends immediately.
La Resistencia is a grassroots organization in Washington state led by undocumented people who stand in solidarity with those detained at the Northwest Detention Center and fight for the closure of the facility and an end to all detentions and deportations.
El Tribuno del Pueblo brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: tribunodelpueblo.org. We’re all volunteers, no paid staff. Please donate at http://tribunodelpueblo.org to keep bringing you the voices of the movement because no human being is illegal.
