Women at Karnes immigration detention center near San Antonio say guards are sexually abusing them. Even worse, they claim the guards are molesting them in front of their children.
In what is called a despicable abuse of power, guards at the center have allegedly been abusing their power by promising the center’s already traumatized women immigration assistance in exchange for sexual favors. They have been taking mothers from their rooms at night to perform sexual acts, but then they publicly grope them at other times, no matter who is present.
The abuse has been “substantial and ongoing” say groups filing a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of the victims.
And this is not the only reason Karnes is under investigation. Detainees have been abused in numerous other ways - like threatening families with separation if they refuse to sign immigration documents like voluntary deportation forms.
There is too much evidence of abuse at Karnes for its owner GEO to continue denying it exists. If GEO won’t fire these groping guards, then Homeland Security’s ICE should do it.
We, the undersigned, agree that Karne’s detention center guard abuse is beyond despicable, and the guards and other staff involved must be fired.
As stated in the petition overview, Karnes is already under investigation for abuse and neglect of its detainees, many of whom have fled violence and poverty in their own countries to seek what they expected to be asylum in the US - not more trauma and abuse.
In a statement to the press in response to this latest outrage of sexual abuse, GEO Group denied the abuse even exists, pointing to its “transparency” in allowing the public, federal and local officials, and advocates to visit the facility since August when it began housing families.
However human rights groups that visited the center reportedly found “deplorable conditions” there. From speaking to some of the detainees, staff from these groups learned that children were separated from their parents and some were losing weight. Threats of family separation were used to pressure detainees into signing immigration documents like voluntary deportation forms.
This latest outrage of sexual abuse has made waiting for an investigation unacceptable, especially in light of all the denials, including those implied by the office of Homeland Security.
We request an immediate suspension of all guards suspected of sexual and other physical abuse of detainees and the firing of all found guilty of these accusations.
Thanks for your time.
