The message below comes from an email written by Edgar Aranda-Yanoc at Legal Aid Justice Center. Touch base with him at www.justice4all.org and
The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the horrendous conditions of immigrant detention centers across the United States. As of August 2020, ICA-Farmville and Caroline County Detention Center have totaled hundreds of positive COVID-19 cases and one death, with an overwhelming concentration of cases in ICA-Farmville (full story here). These alarming conditions have been met with calls from immigrants, community leaders, and elected officials for more accountability in the name of those detained who continue to suffer behind walls. For this August's special session, Senator Boysko has submitted bill SB5017 to change the Commonwealth's definition of "local correctional facility" to include these detention centers as it relates to health inspections and open pathways for more accountability and more transparency (WVTF report here). We need your support to ensure this bill gets past the Senate Finance Committee!
WHAT: Contact members of the Senate Finance Committee and tell them you support SB5017!
Committee members and links to their contact pages: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?202+com+S5
Sen. Howell (Chair) - (804) 698-7532 - (703) 709-8283 - district32@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Saslaw - (804) 698-7535 - (703) 978-0200 - district35@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Norment - (804) 698-7503 - (757) 259-7810 - district03@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Hanger - (804) 698-7524 - (540) 885-6898 - district24@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Lucas - (804) 698-7518 - (757) 397-8209 - district18@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Newman - (804) 698-7523 - (434) 385-1065 - district23@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Ruff - (804) 698-7515 - (434) 374-5129 - district15@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Vogel - (804) 698-7527 - (540) 662-4551 - district27@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Barker - (804) 698-7539 - (703) 303-1426 - district39@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Edwards - (804) 698-7521 - (540) 985-8690 - district21@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Deeds - (804) 698-7525 - (434) 296-5491 - district25@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Locke - (804) 698-7502 - (757) 825-5880 - district02@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Petersen - (804) 698-7534 - (703) 349-3361 - district34@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Marsden - (804) 698-7537 - (571) 249-3037 - district37@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. Ebbin - (804) 698-7530 - (571) 384-8957 - district30@senate.virginia.gov
Sen. McClellan - (804) 698-7509 - (804) 698-7509 - district09@senate.virginia.gov
Find out who represents you at: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/
If you have social media, tag your representatives and call on them to support SB5017!
WHEN: ASAP! The committee could docket and hear this bill at any point this week. Need more information? Check out our overview of the bill and the Q&A for common questions and talking points. Feel free to email Luis Oyola at luis@justice4all.org if you need help or are curious about other ways to support.