Demonstrators: Close prison for suspected illegal immigrants

By Jeremy Redmon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

LUMPKIN – More than 70 demonstrators marched Friday morning from downtown Lumpkin to the federal detention center in Stewart County, showing their support for the suspected illegal immigrants being held there.

Some chanted the names of people who they say have died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Others called for the prison here to be closed and for one of its inmates -- Pedro Guzman -- to be freed. Pedro’s wife, Emily, said he has been held at the prison for more than a year while fighting deportation. As of September, the center was holding 1,890 inmates.

Among the demonstrators were members from several human rights organizations, including Georgia Detention Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia.

Eight of the demonstrators were arrested as they peacefully attempted to cross a “Do Not Enter” tape wrapped around the front entrance to the prison.

Stewart County sheriff’s deputies handcuffed them and drove them away, including Anton Flores-Maisonet, of Georgia Detention Watch, and Pamela Alberda, Emily Guzman’s mother. Flores-Maisonet said he and the others were attempting to march around the prison.

Corrections Corp. of America owns the prison and operates it through an agreement with ICE and Stewart County. A CCA spokesman said Thursday that his company is “committed to the safety of the detainees entrusted to our care at the Stewart Detention Center.”

And an ICE spokeswoman said Thursday: “ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference. We recognize that our nation's broken immigration system requires serious solutions, and we fully support comprehensive immigration reform efforts.”