Many immigrants in Florida can relate to the frustration and suffering others experience in various detainment centers throughout the nation. U.S. immigration law has set regulations about the type of treatment and care that must be provided to immigrants held in these facilities. Surprise inspections recently revealed that four out of five facilities inspected are not functioning at accepted levels of health and safety standards.
No one wants to eat moldy food as the health risks associated with such issues are widely known. However, the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General recently reported that spoiled and moldy foods were found in several of the nation’s immigration detention facilities. The Inspector General also lambasted several detainment centers for substandard medical care of detained immigrants.
On-site inspectors say they found conditions that could post grave safety and health risks to immigrants when they recently toured various detention centers, unannounced. Some also say they witnessed degrading and disrespectful treatment of several detainees during the inspections. A spokesperson for Immigration Customs and Enforcement refuted the negative reports by emphasizing the strict oversight that is present in ICE facilities and stating that ICE detainment centers operate under high standards for treatment of detainees.
An immigration advocate said the problem is that ICE continually fails to uphold those standards, placing many immigrants at risk for substandard care and violations of their rights. Another advocate cited the death of a 27-year-old immigrant who had been held in solitary confinement for 19 days before he died as evidence of an ongoing problem that is not isolated to a single detention location. Any person in Florida facing detainment problems can seek assistance from an attorney well-versed in U.S. immigration law.
Source: The Washington Post, “Watchdog report finds moldy food, mistreatment in immigrant detention centers“, Maria Sacchetti, Dec. 15, 2017
