ICE employees test positive for Coronavirus

The Coronavirus is a giant alarm for everyone. Its spread is out of proportion and is reaching every corner of the planet.

The number of infected is increasing and health institutions are running out of resources to provide service to everyone.

That is why countries around the world are taking emergency measures to counter the spread of COVID-19.

The US is taking extreme measures to decrease the spread of the virus.

All social events are canceled, most of the country’s offices are temporarily suspended, and there is a mandatory quarantine in most states.

However, the measures were taken very late, when the virus was already inside the country. In fact, many government entities worked in person until recently.

Immigration Agencies and the pandemic

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) is one of the government entities that worked in person until very recently.

They are constantly exposed to waves of immigrants arriving every day at the borders of the US and this creates a greater risk of contagion.

Multiple tests were performed at the borders and at ICE employees to rule out possibilities of infection.

The first infected

Last Thursday (March 19, 2020), tests were conducted at immigration detention centers around the country.

At Elizabeth, a family detention center located in New Jersey, one of the medical staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

We are talking about a center that currently welcomes almost 200 immigrants from all over the world.

The virus contagion rate is very high in places with poor hygiene.

These centers do not have the necessary conditions to offer adequate cleaning to all detainees.

The detainees in Elizabeth

So far, there is no trace of virus infection in any of the immigrants detained in Elizabeth.

However, the tendency of the virus is to show between the eighth and the tenth day after being infected.

Immigration agencies and immigrant rights advocates are very concerned with current policies as they say this is not the time to put that number of people at risk.

They declare that not only immigrants are in danger in this situation.

Federal workers are also disappointed with the government that forces them to work in such risky conditions amid a pandemic.

ICE’s response

ICE stated last week that they already have the necessary protections in all of the country’s immigration detention centers.

According to the report, ICE has already sent masks and respirators to all centers.

However, ICE has temporarily suspended social visits to detention centers to protect its employees.

Therefore, there is no way to verify that the centers are properly ready for the Coronavirus.

In times of change

To avoid any hard situation due to the drastic changes we are going through as humanity, it is better to have the best guide and the best support in any immigration application.

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.