Artist Credit: Olly Costello
๐๏ธ Friday, October 31 at 7 pm
๐Surrey Immigration Holding Centre, 13130 76 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 2V6, Coast Salish Territories including the qฬicฬษyฬ (Katzie), qฬสทษ:nฬฦฬษnฬ (Kwantlen), and Semiahma (Semiahmoo) peoples
๐ญ Wear a Halloween costume (no appropriation etc!)
Immigration Detention Centres are designed to enact violence. They are sites of fear, disorientation, isolation, and forced confinement. In 2022, on Christmas Day, a migrant detainee died in the Surrey Detention Center.
While many of us are witnessing the horrific violence of ICE detention in the US, few are aware of Canada’s detention system. In the past year, the Canada Border Services Agency locked up 935 people in immigration detention in so-called BC. There is no legal limit to the length of time that the CBSA can detain migrants. Last year, they incarcerated 193 migrants for over 99 days each.
The detention regime, including so-called “Alternatives to Detention,” is part of the racist deportation machine that keeps people afraid, surveilled and precarious. Carney’s government is ramping up these systems – dedicating budget increases to CBSA, increasing deportations by 25% next year, and cutting access to permanent immigration status. Proposed Bill C-2 will allow the deportation of many asylum seekers without a hearing, cancellation of immigration documentation, and give police and intelligence agencies access to private information without a warrant.
We need solidarity and resistance to respond to these escalating legislated attacks and growing anti-migrant racism everywhere. Not one more detention, not one more detention! Abolish all detention and jails and borders!
This Halloween, let’s confront this scary institution with solidarity. We will be outside the Detention Center with care and treats for loved ones coming during visiting hours, and send musical messages of solidarity for those on the inside. Join us on Oct 31st at 7 pm!