In Florida and throughout the country, there are many immigrants residing under custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A group of immigrant advocates in another state recently staged a rally to protest funding for a specific immigration detention facility. The advocates say there is evidence to prove that detainees in the facility are being abused.
Approximately 50 advocate groups from regions near the detention center in question signed a letter sent to the Department of Homeland Security. During the recent rally, an advocate told the story of an immigrant who has been released on bond from the detention facility. The advocate stated that, during his detention, the man had suffered a stroke but was denied proper medical care by officials at the facility.
The speaker also told of a woman who had been taken into ICE custody while she was attending a meeting with her probation officer. During detention at the named facility, she was allegedly assaulted by numerous inmates. The woman claims that the correctional officers at the facility did nothing to come to her aid.
Information was also released regarding detainees who were apparently punished physically and threatened with criminal charges for participating in a hunger strike to protest substandard care at the immigration detention center. The advocate who spoke of the incident noted people that staging a hunger strike is not a crime. Any Florida immigrant who believes his or her legal rights have been violated by detention officers may seek legal support at any time.
