Due Process Public Education Forum September 8

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) and the League of Women Voters of Plymouth hosted a public education forum on Monday, September 8 at Plymouth Town Hall, Immigration Detention in the Commonwealth, featuring Laura Rótolo, Field Director for the ACLU-MA and Leah Hastings, Immigrant Detention Conditions Project Legal Fellow and Staff Attorney at Prisoners’ Legal Services. Watch the recording here. 

This panel discussion covered:

• What does ICE detention look like here and across the country?
• How will the federal government scale up to 160,000 beds nationwide?
• What are the conditions at Plymouth and Burlington?
• Why are 85% of men at Plymouth incarcerated without being charged with a crime?

The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to due process. The League of Women Voters supports due process for all persons, including the right to a fair hearing, the right to counsel, the right of appeal, and the right to humane treatment, and that no person or group should suffer legal discrimination. When due process is denied to any group, it weakens the rule of law for all of us.

The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts empowers voters and strengthens democracy. With 44 local Leagues and more than 3,000 members across 155 municipalities, LWVMA educates voters to effect change on a wide range of issues including civics and civics education, election laws, women’s health, climate change, and more. As a nonpartisan organization, LWVMA does not endorse political candidates or parties. However, the League takes positions on issues and advocates for or against legislation in our mission to empower voters and strengthen democracy. 

CONTACT:
Celia Canavan
Executive Director
League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
lwvma@lwvma.org