Inspectors Find Dismal Conditions at ICE Detention Facility – Time to Revamp Immigration Detentions?

What’s the story?

• The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has issued a scathing report on conditions at a privately run detention facility in Southern California—outlining poor medical conditions, misuse of solitary confinement, and unsafe practices.
• Inspectors found nooses in 15 of 20 cells they visited at the center operated by the GEO Group for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They also found that a disabled detainee was “'inappropriately held” in solitary confinement for nine days.

"Based on our file review," the report says, "in those 9 days, the detainee never left his wheelchair to sleep in a bed or brush his teeth ... We also observed medical staff just looking in his cell and stamping his medical visitation sheet rather than evaluating the detainee, as required by ICE standards."

What are both sides saying?

• "We identified serious violations that are important to inform ICE of immediately," the OIG wrote in their report.
• ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said in a statement that the agency “takes seriously the OIG's findings, and has agreed to conduct a full and immediate review of the center to ensure compliance with detention standards and expedite necessary corrective actions.”
• Immigrant rights advocates said these findings echo the concerns they’ve been raising for years about this facility and others like it.
• "ICE has ignored the ACLU's repeated complaints about abuse and neglect at Adelanto," Michael Kaufman, an attorney for the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, said in a statement.

"The OIG's disturbing report (reveals) that GEO and ICE officials continue to disregard immigration detainees' well-being, often with tragic consequences."

How private prisons work

• Private prisons receive stipends from the government to manage and operate detention facilities.
• In order to receive the stipend, the private-prison’s costs must be lower than that of a public prison.
• “And just like any business, the more costs they can cut, the bigger that profit margin will be,” CNBC wrote. “But many times, that results in poor quality of care for prisoners.”

What do you think?

Do we need more government oversight of private ICE prisons? Do you support the federal government’s use of private detention centers? Or should the Department of Justice phase out existing contracts with private prison and detention companies? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: John Moore/Getty Images)