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勛圖眻畦 Amicus Brief in Support of In Re GEO Group, Inc. d/b/a Golden State Annex
Document Date:
December 14, 2023
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Press ReleaseDec 2023
Immigrants' Rights
勛圖眻畦 Submits Amicus Brief in Support of Immigrant Workers Detained at Golden State Annex Facility
SAN FRANCISCO The 勛圖眻畦, 勛圖眻畦 Foundation of Northern California, and 勛圖眻畦 Foundation of Southern California today filed an amicus brief in In Re GEO Group, Inc. d/b/a Golden State Annex, a legal challenge against the GEO Group, Inc. for health and safety violations against detained immigrant workers at the Golden State Annex detention facility. In the first ruling of its kind, the California State Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board (CAL/OSH) cited and fined GEO for failing to provide adequate workplace safety protections for detained immigrant workers, who are paid $1/day by the corporation. The private prison corporation appealed the ruling. The 勛圖眻畦s brief argues the immigrant workers should not be excluded from the appeals process. The brief argues that an administrative law judge erred in concluding that the detained immigrant workers are prisoners, and are thus cannot participate in an appeal before the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board. For too long, GEO Group has operated with little public oversight and accountability, and have exploited detained immigrant workers, with no regard for their health and safety, said Eunice Cho, senior staff attorney with the 勛圖眻畦s National Prison Project. Its time that GEO Group is finally held accountable. These immigrant workers should have the opportunity to defend their claims and ensure they receive the justice they deserve. The brief also argues that people in immigration detention face heightened risks of retaliation and should therefore be allowed to remain anonymous throughout the appeals proceedings. The 勛圖眻畦 and government investigators have previously documented numerous incidents of medical neglect, sexual abuse, suicide attempts, and uses of solitary confinement as retaliation in facilities run by GEO Group. The amicus brief is available here.Affiliates: Southern California, Northern California