Locked up by ICE, then sexually assaulted

Thousands of immigrant and refugee women have been sexually abused by ICE agents. Demand justice for these disturbing crimes now. Sign Now Dear friends, E.D. was only 19 years old when she and her 3-year-old child fled their home country of Honduras. As a survivor of domestic and sexual violence, the refugee and her child sought asylum in the United States. Instead, they were locked up by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The heinous conditions inside these federal facilities are already well-known and yet, somehow, things still managed to get worse. Within weeks, an agent named Daniel Sharkey began sexually assaulting her. For a year, the abuse continued, escalating to the point of forcing her to perform sexual acts with him while multiple staff members gathered around to watch. And if she didn't? Her assailant threatened E.D. and her small child with deportation. E.D. is far from alone. More than 1,300 women have submitted formal reports of sexual abuse by ICE staff and agents in four years — and that's dramatically undercounting the true numbers of ICE-inflicted sexual assaults. According to federal law, it is illegal for staff to have any sexual contact with inmates. But the government is fighting back, insisting ICE is immune from this rule because of a legal loophole. They're even going so far as to protest that Sharkey's violations of E.D. were consensual. Let's be clear: there is no such thing as consent inside a prison or detention center, no matter what the U.S. government and its employees claim. The Department of Homeland Security must end these horrific abuses now. Sign the petition to demand a formal, nationwide investigation into the epidemic of sexual abuse perpetrated by ICE agents and staff. Thank you for all that you do,   Miranda B. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. Seeking a better life and fleeing violence, refugees are being degraded and violated by our own government's employees. We demand a full investigation, now!