A packed Bailey Courtroom silently stared at the projector screen as tears flowed down June Everett’s face. In the video, Everett was trying to keep herself composed as she detailed to the House Subcommittee on Immigration how her sister died while being detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

"She died because the American system failed her," Everett said in a strained voice. "A system that failed her. A system that needs fixing. Now."

The video began a presentation on the conditions of immigrant detention in the United States, given by human rights activist Veronica Musa on Tuesday. Musa, who coordinates the Immigration Detention Conditions Project at Florida Institutional Legal Services in Gainesville, Fla. was invited to speak by the Immigration Law Association and the International Law Society.

In her presentation, Musa sought to describe the conditions of immigrant detention, as well as to explain the massive increase in detentions. "I think it is important to note that from 1995 to 2006, the number of Ice detainees held in local jails increased more than 500 percent," she said.

Part of Musa’s explanation for the vast increase in detentions is her assertion that it has become a business. Musa singled out the Corrections Corporation of America, which constructs and manages dozens of facilities across the country, as someone who has "profited a lot" from detaining immigrants. "And of course," Musa said, "as with any market, they won’t say ‘Stop, that’s enough. We are done."

Musa also said that in these tough economic crimes, county jails find immigrant detention to be an attractive option. "At that point it appears that having a contract or agreement with ICE is a source of money."

Detention in one of these facilities leaves detainees with all the hardships of incarcerated criminals, Musa said, but without some of the protections that the criminal justice system provides, like a trial by jury or set release date.

"Eighty-four percent of detainees don’t even have access to a lawyer," she said. On top of that, Musa said that Everett’s sister is only one of the 104 detainees who have died while in custody of ICE since 2003.

But some of these policies might not be in place much longer. Tuesday’s event coincided with a major news conference given by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, in which she described how enforcement and detention would be reformed. The Associated Press reported that Homeland Security, which encompasses ICE, is considering using former hotels and nursing homes, instead of jails, to house detainees who have not committed crimes.

Musa’s speech coinciding with Napolitano’s news conference was a coincidence, but a happy one, said Justin Bleak, one of three founders of the recently formed Immigration Law Association. Bleak said he has read the recent news reports with great interest.

"I’m really excited," he said. "It’s great to see the Obama administration taking the lead and making changes."

The speaking event was the first held by the newly-formed group, which was organized this September by Bleak, along with fellow law students Ela Hernandez, and Amber Seay. Bleak cited Florida’s status as the state with the third largest immigrant population as one important reason why he and his fellow group founders were trying to accomplish their three part goal of education, service opportunities and employment.