Quotes & Media Coverage
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Investigative Post: Lawsuit: ICE violating First Amendment in Batavia
Tags Share A lawsuit filed on March 10th alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at the Batavia detention center routinely open, read, and copy detainees’ legal mail, violating their First Amendment rights. Filed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights in coordination with fellow human rights groups, the suit argues that these practices undermine…
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The Chicago Tribune: An unsafe environment
Tags Share Writing in The Chicago Tribune, our Program Director of Human Rights Education Karen Robinson denounces President Trump’s plans to expand ICE raids on school grounds. She highlights the consequences of this policy for students and calls for a return to our foundational principles – universal education in a safe environment. Read the full…
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Documented: Trump Immigrant Registration Plan Is a Scare Tactic, Law Experts Say
Tags Share The Trump administration plans to revive a World War II-era law requiring immigrants aged 14 and older, who entered the U.S. without a visa, to register with the federal government within 30 days of arrival, including submitting fingerprints. Noncitizens over 14, or parents of noncitizens under 14, who “willfully” fail to register could…
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The Daily Star: Digital law Reforms Hasty, Lack Transparency
Tags Share The Daily Star has reported that six international human rights organizations have raised concerns over Bangladesh’s proposed Cyber Protection Ordinance, 2025, and Personal Data Protection Ordinance, 2025, citing a lack of transparency and stakeholder consultation. In a joint statement, groups including Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and Human Rights Watch warned that the…
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Investigative Post: ICE’s extensive use of solitary confinement in Batavia
Tags Share According to the Investigative Post, The Batavia ICE detention center ranks among the top five facilities in the country for its use of solitary confinement despite being significantly smaller than others on the list. Between 2017 and 2023, 673 detainees were placed in solitary, with confinements averaging 25 days—exceeding the 15-day threshold considered…
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The Business Standard: Bangladesh’s New Digital Laws Under Scrutiny
Tags Share The Business Standard has reported that human rights organizations are raising concerns over Bangladesh’s fast-tracked digital law reforms, warning that the public has been excluded from the process. Groups, including RFK Human Rights, have criticized the lack of transparency, particularly regarding amendments to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, which could enable internet shutdowns…
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The Guardian: ‘Not what we signed up for’: inside Trump’s ‘shocking’ Kennedy Center takeover
Tags Share Former President Donald Trump has appointed Ric Grenell, the former acting director of national intelligence, as the interim president of the Kennedy Center, sparking controversy and backlash from the arts community and longtime patrons. Established in 1971 as a national hub for the arts and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy,…
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The Tennessean: As U.S Justice Advocates, We Hold CoreCivic Responsible for TN Understaffing Woes
Tags Share In The Tennessean, a letter to the editor written by Anthony Enriquez, VP of U.S. Advocacy at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, exposes how private prison industry executives have exploited small-town workers while enabling the inhumane treatment of detainees- all for their profit. Enriquez highlights the empty promises made by private prison corporations…
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Investigative Post: ICE abuse of Detainees in Batavia Facility
Tags Share Recently released federal audits of ICE detention facilities in Batavia have exposed the inhumane and abusive treatment of detainees by facility guards. The 2023 audit detailed excessive force and deplorable living conditions within the center. In addition, former detainees have spoken out, leading 40 individuals to file a civil rights complaint with the…
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La Jornada Veracruz: Today, historic hearing at the IACHR for the murder of Ernestina Ascencio
Tags Share La Jornada Veracruz has reported that on January 30, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) will hold a critical public hearing against the Mexican State in the case of Ernestina Ascencio Rosario, a Nahua woman who suffered sexual violence and torture at the hands of the Mexican Army before her death in…
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The Billion-Dollar Private Prison Companies Capitalizing On Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Tags Share After seeking asylum, 21-year-old Dulce Atahuaman Carhuancho was detained at a private ICE facility. A month later, she was hospitalized with a brain bleed and severe bruising, injuries her lawyers linked to trauma inside the center. Now, her family is suing Geo Group for negligence and a cover-up, as the company refuses to…
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Washington Post: RFK Jr., once a Trump critic on immigration, now could help enforce it
Tags Share In 2023, during his presidential bid, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s family separation policy, condemning it on social media as a cruel choice forced upon migrants. However, if confirmed as the nation’s top health official in the Trump Cabinet, Kennedy could find himself at the center…
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