Florida readers may know someone who has been held in an immigration detention center somewhere in the United States. In fact, some readers may have firsthand experience of what it’s like to be taken into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Reports continue to surface regarding substandard health conditions and compromised safety in numerous U.S. immigration law detention centers throughout the nation.
A recent situation made news headlines in another state. It occurred at a detention facility designed to house women and children only. One woman had been staying there with her toddler-age child. Sadly, shortly after being released, the child died.
Because such a short amount of time had passed between the family’s detainment and the child’s death, questions were raised as to whether something or someone at the immigration detention facility had caused the death. Attorneys providing support to the child’s mother say there is reason to believe that neglect and unsanitary living conditions at the detention center were causal factors. It may take at least several weeks or longer for investigators to accomplish their goals.
This is not the first U.S. immigration law situation that involves an immigrant’s death and allegations of abuse, neglect or substandard care at a detention facility. Like the woman currently grieving the loss of her child, Florida immigrants facing similar problems may want to speak to those well versed in immigration and naturalization law. In fact, such support is often a key factor toward obtaining successful results. While nothing can replace the loss of a human life, there are often steps that can be taken to seek justice when a death is caused by abuse or neglect.
