Frequently Asked Questions
Here at HYA, we want you to be well informed on topics regarding Migrant Justice.
Before we get into event specifics, we'd like to provide links to informative webpages that explain the ongoing crisis and laws in detail.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a non-profit organization aimed towards protecting constitutional individual rights and liberties for people in the United States.
Learn more about the issues and rights of migrants:
Immigrants' Rights and Detention
Ice and Border Patrol Abuses
Road to Citizenship
Deportation and Due Process
State and Local Immigration Laws
Event Questions
What is Casa Sunzal?
What is Southwest Key Programs?
How many unaccompanied minor detention centers run by Southwest Key Programs are there in Houston?
I can’t attend the rally on September 14th, but I would still like to be involved. How can I help?
Where is the money we raise going?
Before we get into event specifics, we'd like to provide links to informative webpages that explain the ongoing crisis and laws in detail.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a non-profit organization aimed towards protecting constitutional individual rights and liberties for people in the United States.
Learn more about the issues and rights of migrants:
Immigrants' Rights and Detention
Ice and Border Patrol Abuses
Road to Citizenship
Deportation and Due Process
State and Local Immigration Laws
Event Questions
What is Casa Sunzal?
- Casa Sunzal, located at 419 Emancipation Ave in Downtown Houston, is a privately-run detention center that houses 207 boys and girls ages 16 to 17 who either arrived unaccompanied or have been separated from their parents. It is one of 17 centers in Texas run by Southwest Key Programs, a nonprofit based in Austin, TX. Casa Sunzal opened earlier this year, despite local opposition.
What is Southwest Key Programs?
- Southwest Key Programs is a Texas-based nonprofit and “the country’s largest operator of immigrant youth shelters, housing more than 5,000 children” across California, Arizona, and Texas. Casa Sunzal, a migrant children’s detention center located at 419 Emancipation Ave, is situated at the heart of our city. As Houstonians, we deserve transparency from Southwest Key in regards to their finances--how they spend hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants. Former CEO Juan Sanchez resigned earlier this year amidst controversy over his salary. Sanchez was reportedly compensated $1.5 million in 2016 and, in 2018, more than twice that amount: $3.6 million. Although they are a nonprofit organization, as of 2017, through a holding company (Southwest Key Enterprises, Inc.) the organization owns and operates eight for-profit businesses, from a construction company to a florist. Beyond financial transparency, we are calling for Southwest Key to be held responsible for any abuse that occurs as a result of negligence. In 2016, there were reportedly “at least 20 violations” involving completing or renewing employee background checks at several of SWK’s Texas facilities.
How many unaccompanied minor detention centers run by Southwest Key Programs are there in Houston?
- There are four migrant detention centers for unaccompanied minors operated by Southwest Key Programs in the Houston area. The detention center our rally is focused on is Casa Sunzal, located on 419 Emancipation Ave, which houses around 200 boys and girls ages 16-17.
- However, Southwest Key is reportedly closing 2 shelters this year, one being the center in Conroe, TX, which is licensed to hold 160 children and the second the Harlingen center, licensed to house 69 children. The organization has stated that the children in those centers will be relocated to other Southwest Key facilities, but no further details have been revealed--we do not know which facilities these children will be moved to, or if they will even remain in the state.
I can’t attend the rally on September 14th, but I would still like to be involved. How can I help?
- Spread the word! Follow and share our social media pages, as well as our gofundme page.
- We need volunteers to phonebank and publicize the event. If you are interested, you can sign up here. Additionally, if you are a high school or college student, we are offering the opportunity to be a student liaison for Houstonians for Migrant Justice. As a student liaison, you would act as a representative of our event and be responsible for getting the word out on your campus. (Please note: if your school already has a liaison, you will be directed to them. Limit 2 liaisons per school.)
- Last, but not least, donate: anything you can contribute will help to provide legal services to unaccompanied minors and their families.
Where is the money we raise going?
- We are partnering with RAICES (The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) for our fundraiser. The money raised will go towards providing legal services to undocumented children through RAICES.
- For more information on our finances, please see our ledger, which has a record of all expenses and is updated after every purchase. After the event, we will release a full expense report with a summary (see Houston Youth Walkout page).
