A thorough investigation in detention centers around the country

The New York Times, in conjunction with the Marshall Project, conducted a comprehensive investigation to analyze the conditions in which immigrants live inside Detention Centers around the US.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) is the entity in charge of supervising immigration detention centers. Therefore, the research is mainly focused on the protocols implemented by ICE during the health crisis.

This investigation lasted more than four months and involves testimonies of dozens of immigrants with different nationalities who were deported during the massive outbreak of Coronavirus in the US or are still in detention centers.

The conditions of ICE’s detention centers

An important part of the investigation is based on the conditions that ICE offers to detained immigrants and employees.

Within the testimonies, there are several similar stories that expose the mismanagement of ICE:

1. The centers are overcrowded, therefore, there is not enough space for the recommended social distancing to avoid a massive spread of COVID-19.
2. There are no hygiene protocols. There are no soap, hand sanitizer, or protective masks.
3. Bathrooms are not always in adequate hygiene conditions.
4. Detained immigrants are not allowed to bathe on a daily basis.
5. The cells are dirty most of the time and there are no established medical protocols.

Therefore, these circumstances turned ICE’s immigration detention centers into hotbeds of the nouvelle Coronavirus.

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Deportations amid a global pandemic

It is well known that the Coronavirus is a highly contagious disease through human contact. It is most recommended that if a someone has symptoms or tests positive for the COVID-19, (s)he should be isolated for at least 14 days.

The investigation conducted by The New York Times showed that ICE deported dozens of immigrants who had tested positive for the Coronavirus or who had symptoms related to the pandemic.

There are four specific testimonies of immigrants who were deported even though they had tested positive or had related symptoms. These four individuals came to the US from Haiti, India, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

The four immigrants report similar circumstances:

• They were deported even after testing positive for the Coronavirus or having related symptoms.
• ICE transferred them to different immigration detention centers around the country before deporting them.
• The deportation planes were full of immigrants when they were sent to their countries.

The conclusions of the investigation

The New York Times showed ICE became a “spreader” of the virus, not only locally but internationally as well.

The research shows that ICE did not follow protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and violated global health emergency measures.

The main conclusions of the investigation are:

• By constantly moving detained immigrants to different immigration centers around the country, ICE helped spread a massive outbreak of Coronavirus within its own facilities.
• ICE endangered its employees by not having adequate hygiene conditions in immigration detention centers.
• Deporting immigrants who tested positive for the Coronavirus or had related symptoms, unleashed an outbreak of Coronavirus in more vulnerable countries and territories such as Haiti, India, Guatemala and El Salvador.
• An immigrant relates that he had symptoms related with the Coronavirus before being deported. He was only prescribed Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen).
  Thus, the investigation concludes that ICE personnel did not follow mandatory health protocols.
• ICE did not take precautionary measures on time and is currently exporting the virus.

The investigation also exposes that Trump’s government promised monetary support and benefits for countries cooperating with deportations amid the health crisis. Therefore, several countries (especially in Central America) have agreed to receive deportees from the US.

However, ICE has deported hundreds of immigrants infected with Coronavirus and is harming more vulnerable territories. These third world countries do not have enough resources to mitigate and counteract the impact of the global pandemic.

If you have a Deportation Case, please do not hesitate to contact Motion Law Immigration. 

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