KAMYAR SAMIMI died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 2, 2017, 15 days after ICE agents arrested him. Mr. Samimi held a green card and had lived in the U.S. for more than four decades. Within days of his death, ACLU of Colorado sent ICE a request under the Freedom of Information Act for records related to his arrest, detention, and subsequent death.
It took 17 months and a federal lawsuit for ICE to produce its report about Mr. Samimi’s death. The report confirmed our worst fears about why ICE kept the public in the dark about this tragedy for so long. It paints a gruesome picture of the conditions inside the Aurora detention facility operated by GEO Group, Inc., a for-profit prison corporation; and a gruesome picture of how our government treats immigrant detainees.
Medical staff at GEO were ignorant about how to treat Mr. Samimi’s opioid addiction and apathetic about his overall care. The physician’s decision to cut Mr. Samimi off methadone was medically unjustifiable. To make matters worse, nurses failed to provide him with the correct doses of medication designed to treat the subsequent brutal withdrawal symptoms and to monitor his condition appropriately. They ignored his desperate pleas for medical attention because they thought he was faking it. Mr. Samimi became suicidal. As his deteriorating condition drew him closer to death, the nurses didn’t follow suicide-watch protocols or contact the physician, who apparently ignored calls when he wasn’t at the facility.
Mr. Samimi’s tragic death reflects deeper issues within immigration detention. He is one of 24 people to die in ICE custody since Trump took office, a number that does not include the seven children who have died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection since December. In Colorado, we hear constant stories of woeful medical care for the detainees at GEO, the vast majority of whom are refugees who lack legal representation.
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65453304_2272904826281717_3772953944806007624_n.mp4"][/video]
Video: Protesters outside GEO Aurora Detention Facility.

Ultimately, Mr. Samimi didn’t take his own life. It was snuffed out by a broken system. After vomiting blood and collapsing, Mr. Samimi stopped breathing. He was finally taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Later, the coroner’s autopsy would cite emphysema and gastrointestinal bleeding as contributing factors in his death. The forensic pathologist wrote that methadone withdrawal could not be ruled out as the cause of death.
In response to the gross mistreatment of human beings in its care, ICE rewarded GEO with 500 additional beds in February 2019. There is no indication of any effort to address the medical understaffing noted in the report on Mr. Samimi. At the time of Mr. Samimi’s death there were around 800 people at GEO and one physician on staff who never examined Mr. Samimi. Today, one physician is responsible for 1,365 lives.
At the same time GEO was undergoing major expansion, there were multiple outbreaks of mumps and chickenpox. As of May 2019, 152 detainees were under quarantine. Congressman Jason Crow, in whose district GEO is located, recently said of ICE, “The agency’s lack of transparency and accountability put the health of the public and detainees at risk. We’re seeing similar situations occur across the country fueled by ICE’s culture of secrecy. . . People are dying and we can’t wait a moment longer.”
Unfortunately, the Trump administration isn’t fueled by the same sense of urgency, but rather deliberate cruelty. It seems determined to keep locking immigrants in cages and to stuff the coffers of private prison corporations, which are unable or unwilling to provide adequate medical care. While this administration isn’t interested in holding ICE and GEO accountable, we are. Our work on behalf of detainees whose lives are at stake continues. “People are dying and we can't wait a moment longer.”
—Arash Jahanian, Staff Attorney

SEPTEMBER 2018 was a time of celebration and new beginnings for my family. We had just baptized my nephew, my niece turned 2 years old, and I got engaged. Life was good. Until one day, at a stop light on Colorado Boulevard, my joy was replaced with dread by a phone call that would change everything. In a low, crackly voice my sister-in-law said, “They got him. ICE got him.”
This was the call I’d been dreading for months. My mind raced in so many different directions, from, “I have to call a lawyer,” to, “I have to gather up bail money.” Who else could help? Should I start a petition? But mostly I just thought, “How do I get him out? How do I get my brother back?”
While my mind raced, my body stopped moving — even breathing. A honk from the car behind me brought me back to the present moment, to a stop light on a warm, sunny Colorado day. Except now there was no music, there was no joy, and the peace and happiness my family felt for a short time came to a screeching halt. I could barely see the road in front of me because of the tears in my eyes. All I could feel was pain for what seemed like an eternity.
The following week was a blur of lawyer meetings, family meetings at McDonalds with a play place so my niece wouldn’t hear our conversations and visitations at the Aurora GEO Detention facility. Time seemed to stand still and nothing happened fast enough until a week later when I received another life-altering call. This time from a Mexican phone number.
“Hola hermana,” is all I heard from my brother, now a heartbroken man. That moment wasn’t the ending to our family separation, but rather the beginning of our fight for reunification.
—Ana Temu, Immigration Campaign Coordinator

This story was originally featured in our Summer 2019 Newsletter.

A NOTE FROM PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR DENISE MAES

120 DAYS. That’s how long the 2019 legislative session lasted. And within those 120 days, we plotted an ambitious legislative agenda with 14 proactive bills, of which 13 passed and were signed into law. We championed legislation that will, for the first time in our state’s history, fund comprehensive sex education for schools seeking to adopt such a curriculum. We were also able to lift up legislation that will bring some relief to our immigrant friends and neighbors, and we advanced legislation that will reform aspects of our cruel bail system. You made this happen and we thank you for your help and support.
As you know, direct communication with your elected officials is a valuable way to encourage them to stand up for freedom and protect civil liberties. We encourage you to use this scorecard to give your state representative and senator feedback on their votes in the 2019 legislative session. Sine die is Latin for the phrase “without assigning another meeting,” and it’s the term people under the dome use to describe the last day of the legislative session. Sine die was May 3, but its not too late to let legislators know where you stand.
2019 ACLU of Colorado Legislative Scorecard

American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU-CO) seeks a dynamic, experienced and talented Development Coordinator. This full-time, salaried position will be based in Denver.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the nation’s foremost defender of constitutional rights and civil liberties. ACLU of Colorado, the Colorado affiliate of the ACLU, is the state’s guardian of freedom, working in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities across the state to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for all. Founded in 1952, ACLU of Colorado is a strong, growing organization with thousands of members, supporters, and activists. For more information about the work of ACLU of Colorado and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit our website at www.aclu-co.org.
The Development Coordinator advances ACLU of Colorado’s strategic priorities by effectively ensuring the smooth administration of the organization’s development operations to raise funds for the organization. This position works with our legal, public policy, communications, and campaigns departments, and reports directly to the Director of Philanthropy. ACLU of Colorado is a fast-paced and ever-evolving environment and requires the ability to multitask effectively and complete tasks individually as well as in a team.
Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

ACLU of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and promote an inclusive culture. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.
ACLU of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment.
 
 

 

Job Responsibilities

Development Support:

• Enter and maintain records in the donor and membership database, including entry of gifts, contact and research information;
• Generate timely acknowledgments and donor correspondence;
• Create fundraising reports and various mailing list reports;
• With the Deputy Director and Staff Accountant, report gifts for deposit; charge and process credit card memberships and donations; reconcile all receipts with accounting system on a quarterly basis; and complete annual reconciliation process with the National office;
• Maintain electronic and hard copy development files;
• Lead representative of the ACLU of Colorado with Community Shares, Community First Foundation, and other workplace giving programs, including updating our profile on those programs sites;
• Coordinate with Administrative Assistant on completing annual recertification process for Community Shares and annual profile update for Community First Foundation;
• Proofread/edit and draft appeal letters, development newsletter articles, portions of the annual report, and other written development materials as necessary;
• Schedule meetings for development staff;
• Help manage development volunteers and interns;
• Assist with production of development materials and special projects;
• Maintain and convey an understanding of the ACLU’s structure, programs and work; and
• Maintain a positive and encouraging environment for co-workers and volunteers.

Major Gifts Program: Assists the Director of Philanthropy, Major Gifts Officer, Executive Director, and Deputy Director with efforts to secure major gifts by:

• managing a mid-level group of donors;
• helping to create and maintain the major gifts portfolio;
• creating and maintaining donor proposals, profiles, and preferences;
• conducting donor and prospect research;
• preparing donor packets and materials;
• making thank you phone calls to mid-level donors; and
• preparing and sending out mailings.

Special Events:

• Oversee the planning, implementation, and execution of the annual dinner;
• Help to select and manage appropriate vendors needed for events;
• Coordinate and produce all mailings for annual dinner, including nominations, sponsorship and invitations;
• Solicit sponsorships for dinner from law firms, organizations, and individuals;
• Maintain guest lists, including contact information, and adding participants to database;
• Handle event RSVPs;
• Assure event record-keeping is integrated into database system;
• Facilitate event follow-up by distributing correspondence, gifts, photos, if applicable;
• Facilitate providing organizational guidance regarding event planning (sample thank you letters, informational material, etc) for board members and third parties; and
• Provide support for other fundraising related events that may occur.

Qualifications

• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel;
• Experience using databases and email software;
• Detail-oriented with strong follow through, demonstrated ability to solve problems, ability to meet tight deadlines and manage resources effectively;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a busy office environment;
• A creative, flexible, detail-oriented self-starter;
• Team player who inspires collaboration, lifts up the work of others, and maintains balance and perspective with patience and a sense of humor;
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel when necessary;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and to meet deadlines;
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with donors, volunteers, staff, board members, and the general public;
• A profound and well-articulated commitment to civil liberties and the mission of the American Civil Liberties Union;
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values individuals and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance, and the ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.

Compensation And Benefits

Approximate salary range is mid-forties, in accordance with parameters of the nationwide ACLU and the Denver area nonprofit sector and taking into account skills and experience. Benefits include medical and dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, 401k contribution, and paid vacation and holidays.
To Apply

Send a cover letter, résumé, and references in an email with “Development Coordinator, ACLU of Colorado” in the subject line to [email protected]. No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, which will not be before August 5, 2019.
For more information about the work of ACLU of Colorado, please visit our website at www.aclu-co.org.