Immigrant detention centers amid the pandemic

Immigration detention centers are facilities supervised by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, which has the task of detaining undocumented immigrants, taking them to these centers and initiating deportation proceedings for them.

Since the massive outbreak of Coronavirus reached the North American territory, dozens of activists and experts warned about the risk present in immigration detention centers and stated that they could become hotbeds of the virus, mainly because:

• There is not enough space to have social distancing, required to avoid a massive outbreak of COVID-19.
• Detainees do not bathe every day and do not always have access to hygiene supplies such as soap.
• There are not enough medical personnel to assist detainees in the event of a massive health emergency.

In fact, in one of our most recent articles, we talk about an investigation showing that ICE and the lack of health protocols in immigration detention centers were a trigger for the spread of the virus within these facilities.

Do you need to request your legal documentation in the US? Contact Motion Law and follow the advice of experts on immigration matters.

The detention center most affected by COVID-19

One of the immigration detention centers located in Eloy, Arizona, reports the highest number of Coronavirus cases and has drawn the attention of dozens of activist organizations and immigrant rights advocates.

According to official ICE figures, this center has had a total of 400 Coronavirus cases since the first case was reported on April 6. This is the highest number among ICE detention centers.

Currently, there are 26 active cases in isolation to prevent even greater spread within ICE facilities. This situation has received multiple criticisms, not only for the risk it represents for detained immigrants, but also for federal employees.

For instance, the legal director for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project stated: “For months, we have called for people in immigration detention to be released because we feared that exactly this would happen (…) The government either does not have the interest or the ability to contain this virus inside detention centers, and people’s lives are on the line.”

The federal agency assures it has invested in more than 1000 Coronavirus tests for the Eloy detention center involved in the controversy, which has the capacity to house more than 3,000 undocumented immigrants.

Do you need help with an immigration case? Contact Motion Law and schedule your Free Consultation.

Protect your future by following legal processes

Illegal immigration never has a positive impact. Adding to that, the Trump administration has substantially reduced benefits available to undocumented immigrants in the US.

Therefore, it is better to protect your future and start immigration processes following legal parameters. These processes require constant dedication and that is why we recommend for you to seek experts’ help to avoid precarious situations or wasting money, time and effort.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.