SPECIAL FILM SCREENING & FUNDRAISING EVENT
NMILC invites you to join NMILC on Thursday, February 27 at Fusion Theater for a special screening of this 11-minute documentary centered on how private prisons in New Mexico are arbitrarily profiting off of immigrants and asylum-seekers, and furthermore subjecting them to psychological and physical abuse while they await to be deported.
ABOUT THE FILM:
This 11-minute documentary exposes the harsh conditions inside the Otero, Cibola, and Torrance detention centers in New Mexico, where asylum seekers are unjustly held in facilities run by private corporations. Through testimonies from detainees, lawyers, and activists, the film reveals human rights violations, medical negligence, and the lack of access to legal representation.
It highlights tragic cases such as those of Johnn Javier Benavidez and Roxana Hernández, who died in these facilities due to negligence. The documentary also features the testimony of Edwin García, who was detained in Torrance for 14 days and experienced firsthand the struggles that thousands of immigrants endure in these centers. Additionally, it sheds light on the relentless work of community organizations that have been calling on lawmakers for years to address this crisis. Now, more than ever, this issue is at the forefront, and the documentary underscores the urgent need for concrete change.
The documentary also simplifies the purpose of the Immigrant Safety Act to make it more accessible to the public. This legislation aims to ban private companies from contracting with the state to detain immigrants and profit from their unjust incarceration. In simple terms, it seeks to end a system that turns the imprisonment of human beings into a business, ensuring that no one is deprived of their freedom solely because of their immigration status.
Through real stories, the film conveys this message, highlighting the efforts of numerous organizations working to bring this issue to light and emphasizing the need for reforms that prioritize human dignity over corporate profits.