Pedro Figueroa
Santa Ana,CA
Summary
Undocumented advocate impacted by a broken justice system including criminal and immigration who is eager and determined to contributing for a better society and make a change within the community
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Organizer
The Peace and Justice Law Center
Fullerton, CA
01.2024 - Current
- Coordinate meetings, conferences and other special events.
Detainee Advocate/Social Organizer
ICE Detention Center-GEO Mesa Verde
Bakersfield, CA
10.2021 - 08.2023
- Identified inhumane conditions and detainee treatment inside detention center and presented improvement plans to align with constitutional detention living conditions
- Provided direct support, coaching and intervention to other detainees to obtain humane treatment and preserve dignity
- Identified and accurately documented detention violations to track ICE and GEO's misconduct
- Provided COVID-19 vaccine awareness and connected individuals with outside organizations to further assist them with covid-19 education including helping connect with trustworthy outside doctors
- Created plans to propose solutions to problems related to medical neglect, staff misconduct, inhumane living/working conditions, hostile environment, sexual misconduct within the facility including sexual assaults, issues relating to poor and unhealthy food service and unsanitary cleaning practices
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of rules and regulations within (ICE) COVID-19 Pandemic Response Requirements, (ICE) National Detainee Handbook and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement: Performance-Based National Detention Standards or PBNDS in order to advocate for a safe, secure and humane detention environment that aligns with their true obligations and requirements
- Educated detainees on their rights while in ICE custody and provided copies of Immigration Customs Enforcement standards including: COVID-19 PRR, National Detainee Handbook and PBNDS to further their education
- Supported by legal organizations my advocacy garnered media coverage, including radio interviews, newspaper articles and social media helping to further shed light on detainee issues inside detention center
- Engaged in several congressional meetings requesting for congress to independently conduct investigations regarding detention conditions
- Implemented effective communication protocols within the detention center to have a better opportunity to bring justice and improve detention conditions such as adequate food, humane treatment, adequate provision of bedding, light fixtures shut down at a reasonable time in order to stop deprivation of sleep which is a form of torture
- Planned, organized and co-led worker strike inside detention center challenging the exploitation of detainees for a mere dollar a day which was followed by a lawsuit against the private prison contractor GEO and is a current pending litigation which i am a plaintiff in
- Worker strike subjected me to inhumane retaliation which led me to file a historic claim with the National Labor Relations Board (first claim ever in the nation to be filed by a detainee to the NLRB)
- Planned, organized and co-led the longest historic hunger strike inside a detention center in California prompting a Civil Rights lawsuit and numerous habeas corpus filings demanding detainees freedom
Inmate Fire Fighter
CDCR-Antelope Fire Camp
Susanville, CA
04.2020 - 10.2021
- actively battled California's biggest historic fires including the August Complex Fire in 2020 and the Dixie Fire in 2021
Inmate
CDCR, California State Prison
, CA
03.2010 - 10.2021
- 16 year prison term despite being innocent
Education
High School Diploma -
Wilshire Day School
Santa Ana, CA06-2005
Timeline
Organizer
The Peace and Justice Law Center
01.2024 - Current
Detainee Advocate/Social Organizer
ICE Detention Center-GEO Mesa Verde
10.2021 - 08.2023
Inmate Fire Fighter
CDCR-Antelope Fire Camp
04.2020 - 10.2021
Inmate
CDCR, California State Prison
03.2010 - 10.2021
High School Diploma -
Wilshire Day School
Similar Profiles
Bradley WatkinsBradley Watkins
Organizing Coordinator at Mid-south Peace And Justice CenterOrganizing Coordinator at Mid-south Peace And Justice Center
Casey RybaCasey Ryba
Volunteer at San Jose Peace And Justice CenterVolunteer at San Jose Peace And Justice Center
Olivia SpagnoloOlivia Spagnolo
Clinical Student at Criminal Defense Clinic, The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic & Center for Social Justice, Loyola University New Orleans College of LawClinical Student at Criminal Defense Clinic, The Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic & Center for Social Justice, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
STEVEN BURTNETTSTEVEN BURTNETT
Storekeeper at Santa Ana Unified School DistrictStorekeeper at Santa Ana Unified School District
Cristian Medina-MossoCristian Medina-Mosso
RN ER at Orange County Global HospitalRN ER at Orange County Global Hospital