Tell CongressNo more forced hysterectomies

Posted: Sept. 22, 2020

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement has been forcing women in ICE detention to receive hysterectomies against their will. The horrifying news comes from heroic whistleblower Nurse Dawn Wooten, who worked at ICE's Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia.

Let that sink in: Violent, state-sanctioned medical abuse against women of color still occurs in the United States. This is forced sterilization -- and it fits the broader pattern of racist abuse that has characterized the U.S. immigration system for decades. Such problems have only grown worse in recent years, emboldened by Donald Trump's hatred.

When Jesus' mother Mary sang of bringing down the powerful from their thrones, it was surely with abusive governments like this in mind. Such attacks on life, immigrants, and women of color are an affront to everything we hold dear as Christians.

A fundamentally racist system must be changed, and the corrupt authorities who have enabled it -- including Donald Trump and his allies -- must be swept from power. The first step is to support the calls of local organizers to permanently shut down Irwin.

Sign the petition:

Dear Representative and Senators,

As an American and person of faith, I was horrified to learn about the forced hysterectomies taking place at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Irwin County Detention Center.

While it is good that ICE will no longer send detained women to see Dr. Mahendra Amin, this is an insufficient response. Forced sterilization is part of a much broader pattern of systemic racism and history of medical abuse in our immigration system. As reported by multiple news organizations, immigration officials have been repeatedly accused of rape inside detention cells, filming women as they showered, shackling pregnant women, ignoring miscarriages, and threatening victims with deportation if they speak out. Such problems have only grown worse in recent years, emboldened by Donald Trump's hatred.

Scripture calls us to welcome immigrants, love one another, and seek justice. Urgent, radical action from Congress is needed to address our government's systemic racism. That process begins -- but does not end -- by shutting down the Irwin County Detention Center. As a powerful lawmaker and my representative, please take action to close the ICE center immediately and release non-violent detainees to the custody of loved ones during the pandemic.

Thank you.

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