amy: that is francisca morales macÍas, an immigrant detainee who was transferred out of hutto in texas taking part in the hunger strike there. while exact figures are unknown, advocates say the hunger strike grew this week substantially, possibly into the hundreds. hutto is run by the country's largest private prison firm, corrections corporation of america. the hunger strike there is the latest by immigrant detainees around the country. three other detention facilities have seen hunger strikes in the last three weeks -- the adelanto detention facility in california, the lasalle detention center in louisiana, and el paso processing center in texas. for more we are joined by cristina parker, immigration projects coordinator for grassroots leadership. she gathered and released the letters written by 27 women at hutto when they launched their hunger strike. welcome to democracy now! tell us the extent of this hunger strike and what the women are demanding. and respond to the prison saying they are not on hunger strike. >> thank you so much for having me on. we know that 27 women started l