VARICK STREET IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN GREENWICH VILLAGE CLOSING

ACCORDING TO I.C.E. THE VARICK STREET IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN GREENWICH VILLAGE WILL BE CLOSED TEMPORARILY DUE TO OVERWHELMING COMPLAINTS FROM DETAINEE'S AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS DETENTION CENTER IS ON VARICK STREET BETWEEN HOUSTON, AND KING STREET, AND GREENWICH STREET ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, I AM SURE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA AND NEVER THOUGHT OR REALIZED THAT 300 PLUS INMATES ARE BEING DETAINED IN THIS BUILDING. 

MY BROTHER WAS DETAINED AT VARICK, HE SPENT A YEAR THERE AND EVERY TIME I WAS IN THE AREA I WOULD WAVE AT THE 4TH FLOOR WINDOW FIRST FROM THE CORNER ON THE VARICK STREET SIDE, A DETAINEE WOULD ALWAYS BE AT THE WINDOW, WHICH IS THEIR ONLY VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD BEING THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED OUTSIDE AT ALL WHICH IS A VIOLATION OF THE NATIONAL DETENTION STANDARDS. IT IS IRONIC HOW RENT AND PROPERTY VALUE IN THIS AREA IS SO EXPENSIVE AND THESE MEN ARE BEING HELD IN THE SAME AREA IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS, 300 MEN ON ONE FLOOR ONE BATHROOM, INDOORS 24 HOURS A DAY, AND NO MEDICAL CARE, IF ONE PERSON GETS SICK EVERYONE GETS SICK. 

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE CLOSING TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE NYTIMES. EVERYONE WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ORANGE COUNTY DETENTION IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH MAKES VARICK LOOK LIKE THE W HOTEL. IN ORANGE THE PLUMBING IS BAD SO SOMETIMES WHEN A TOILET IS USED IN ON CELL THE IT IS FELT AND SEEN IN ANOTHER CELL. BEING THAT MOST DETAINEE'S ARE NEW YORK RESIDENTS THEY DO NOT WANT VARICK STREET TO CLOSE PERMANENTLY BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY IMMIGRATION FACILITY IN THE CITY SO IT IS CONVENIENT FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO COME VISIT THEM. SO HOPEFULLY I.C.E. WILL IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS AND TREAT THESE MEN LIKE HUMAN BEINGS.

THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN THE AREA MAYBE COMING OR GOING TO SOB'S OR JUST WALKING DOWN VARICK ON YOUR WAY TO TRIBECA AND AS YOU GO BY 201 VARICK STREET LOOK UP AND WAVE.