Learn about the heroic strike led by folks detained at Mesa Verde

and Golden State Annex

With exceptional bravery, migrants detained in California have started a labor strike to protest against living and working conditions at the Mesa Verde Detention Facility and Golden State Annex, both run by the multibillion dollar corporation GEO Group, one of the largest carceral and surveillance contractors in the world. Exploited and mistreated, detained individuals are paid only $1 a day to clean facilities in deplorable hygiene conditions.

Although this work program is in theory voluntary, individuals are punished if they refuse to work or if they protest, with punishments ranging up to and including internment in "the hole" -- a tiny, windowless, solitary segregation cell. Moreover, individuals have no choice but to work in order to buy basic necessities such as dental floss or tortillas at the detention center's store.

Immigrant and union organizations have formed a Strike Support Committee to support the demands of these detained migrant workers. We are inviting other organizations and community members to join us in this effort.

In addition to supporting the demands of the strikers, unions, organizers, activists, and community members must mobilize for the closure of all detention centers and the immediate unrestricted release of all detained individuals. Moreover, our struggle must be for the full rights to citizenship for all migrants and the undocumented, and for open borders.

LABOR STRIKE TIMELINE