FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 3, 2020
CONTACT: Susana Flores [email protected] (915) 525-2434

CASA Members Among Group of Plaintiffs Demanding Continuation of DACA Program Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

YORK, PA – Immigrant and workers’ rights champion CASA and six organizations sent a letter urging the York County government to adopt key protections for vulnerable populations in order to minimize their risk of exposure to COVID-19. The organizations strongly recommend the County government prioritize expanding healthcare access to all affected by the pandemic, provide emergency relief funds, and reduce incarceration of those held at the York County Prison.

“COVID-19 has magnified the issues that the most vulnerable members of our community face everyday. There are also silent heroes keeping our community functioning and, sadly, they take the biggest risk of contracting COVID-19: grocery store associates, day care providers, health care workers, and janitors,” said Thais Carrero, CASA Pennsylvania Director. “More importantly, the undocumented held by ICE as well as others detained at the York County Prison need urgent action, since shared facilities and living spaces make social distancing an impossibility, posing a risk not only to detainees and inmates, but workers and their families at home.”

This demand letter hits the desk of York County government officials right as immigrant detainees power through a hunger strike at the local prison. The strike is aimed at raising awareness of the insufficient precautions taken against this deadly virus. CASA works with Latinos and immigrants whose family members are being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside the facility.

While the federal and state government are taking actions there are many needs that are not met and need to be addressed by local leadership. CASA looks forward to engaging with and working alongside local government to implement the protections outlined in this letter.

CASA
City of York
The Movement
Union Evangelical Lutheran Church
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York
York Stands Up
York XL

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With over 100,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South-Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region.  CASA organizes with and litigates on behalf of low-wage immigrants.  More information about CASA can be found at www.wearecasa.org and on Twitter at @CASAforall.