More than one million immigrants arrive at U.S. borders every year, many escaping violent or threatening situations in their home countries.

Immigrants arrive to U.S. detention centers that are just as damaging as the violence-prone countries many are fleeing. One investigator even found conditions at the nation’s largest Customs and Border Protection detention center “could be compared to torture facilities.”

Currently, many detention centers are jailed in privately owned prisons, which means that the first view of the U.S. granted to immigrants is from behind bars. The detention environment resembles a prison and more often than not separates children from their family members. The lack of healthcare poses a serious threat to the mental and physical well-being of individuals awaiting decisions on their immigration status.

This racist and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and immigrants must stop!

U.S. Congress members, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) have sponsored a bill called the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, proposing changes to how the U.S. treats immigrants and ensuring transparent and responsible conduct around immigrants awaiting a court decision.

This legislation would implement a shift from detention to alternative housing arrangements for immigrants awaiting court decisions. Community-based supervision programs allow immigrants to live independently, and outside of detention centers.

This legislation will also address transparency in how the U.S. runs its detention centers, calling for regular inspections at detention facilities to ensure that the facility workers are respecting all rights of immigrants.

Migrant families lawfully seeking asylum cannot continue to be abused! Congress must enact legislation to prevent further detainment in for-profit concentration camps.