VIII. Acknowledgements

This report was researched and written by Janna Rearick, a University of Michigan Law School fellow at Human Rights Watch. The report was also researched and edited by Bill Frelick, refugee policy director. The report was edited by Iain Levine, director of the Program Office. Clive Baldwin, senior legal advisor, conducted the legal review. The report was also edited by Alison Parker, deputy director of the US Program and Zama Coursen-Neff, deputy director of the Children’s Rights Division. Kara Hartzler of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Melanie Nezer of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Susannah Vance and Leslie Vélez of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and Helen Butcher provided additional comments. Valerie Kirkpatrick and Grace Choi provided editorial and production assistance.

Human Rights Watch expresses its sincere appreciation to the organizations who lent their support and expertise to this project. The Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project was both an indispensable partner and a driving force behind this project, and continues to provide much-needed advocacy on this issue. The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, and CAIR Coalition also provided invaluable assistance and dialogue.

In addition, we recognize our colleagues at The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Amnesty International USA and other members of the NGO working group for their ongoing research, advocacy, and insight.

We would like to extend particular thanks to the Office of Policy at US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to the ICE Phoenix and Philadelphia field offices for their assistance in arranging our facility visits and their willingness to accommodate our schedule and interview requirements. Andrew Strait at the Office of Policy, Phillip Crawford at Florence Service Processing Center, Marcos Charles at Eloy Detention Center, and Joseph Dunn at York County Prison were all exceedingly helpful. We also express our gratitude to facility officials and personnel at Florence Service Processing Center, Eloy Detention Center, Pinal County Adult Detention Center, and York County Prison.

Finally, Human Rights Watch thanks those resettled refugees who spoke to us from detention facilities in Arizona and Pennsylvania. All those who spoke with Human Rights Watch interviewers did so knowing that no personal benefit could accrue to them through the interview process, and shared their experiences motivated by the desire to contribute positively to the lives of future unadjusted, resettled refugees.