[ad_1]
D-Ga, according to a new report on his investigation, first obtained by NBC News. A months-long investigation by Senator Jon Ossoff compiled hundreds of human rights violations at immigration detention centers.
The report states that Ossov’s office has “identified 510 reliable reports of human rights abuse” to those with immigration custody. Of these cases, 41 include allegations of physical or sexual abuse, and reports of abuse of children in custody, 18, and 14 suspected reports of abuse of both US citizens and non-citizens, and pregnant women.
The report cites Homeland Security officials who were reported anonymously to Ossoff’s office. The pregnant detainee who spoke to Ossoff staff also said instead of being examined, he repeatedly asked doctors to “just drink water” and was told to “just drink water.” Another detainee at a Louisiana immigration processing center, six months pregnant, was D-Mass while visiting suspects twice after lawmakers were taken into custody, according to a report cited in the investigation.
Another case included in the report attracted Ossov’s attention. A partner of a pregnant Georgia detainee had just had a miscarriage and after not listening to her for two days, she contacted his office for help in getting information.
Meredi Yun, an Asian American immigration lawyer and litigation director for advancing Atlanta Justice, told NBC News that she met a pregnant detainee in Georgia, a 23-year-old Mexican national whose names have been withheld to protect the privacy of her and her family.
According to a partner of a Georgia detainee who spoke to Yoon and Ossoff’s office, the woman began bleeding heavily about a week later after confirming that she was her first child in mid-March.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she had a miscarriage. A day later, she was returned to the detention center. After requesting a doctor because she was still in pain, her partner was worried because she hadn’t heard from her for two days.
According to immigration case status documents obtained by NBC News, the woman was undergoing a follow-up health check on April 9th, 11 days after the miscarriage. There, she reported feeling “pelvic pain” and “moderate” bleeding. The document said the immigration officer was on medication for her pain and described her condition as “very stable.”
The slow detainees said they witnessed and experienced “terrifying” and “worrisome” conditions, but the lawyers said, including allegations of overcrowding, those forced to sleep on the floor, inadequate access to nutrition and medical care, abusive treatment by security guards, abusive treatment, lack of cases and limited ability to contact legal support with loved ones.
The lawyer reports that a pregnant client under DHS custody has been waiting for a doctor to see her for weeks and her scheduled appointment has been cancelled.
“Regardless of our views on immigration policy, Americans do not support abuse of detainees and prisoners… It’s more important than ever to shed light on what’s going on behind bars and barbed wire, especially the most shocking thing to children.”
In response to NBC News’ requests for comments on the report’s allegations, DHS Deputy Chief Tricia McLaughlin said in an email that “the claim that the ice detention center has subprime conditions is false.”
She said all detainees with immigrants and customs enforcement custody “have the opportunity to eat appropriately, treat, and communicate with lawyers and their families.” She said detainees have access to 24-hour emergency care from the moment they arrive at the ice detention facility, and detainees receive medical, dental, mental health intake screening and follow-up health assessments.
“Ensuring the safety, security and happiness of the individuals under our custody is ice’s number one priority,” McLaughlin said. She said it was “irresponsible” to report allegations from pregnant detainees in Georgia. The name has been withheld, adding that these “false” claims contribute to the “devilization” of immigration officials. NBC News reviewed immigration records to verify the identity and medical status of Georgia detainees.
The report states that in at least three cases, children experienced serious medical problems while in detention and were denied appropriate medical care.
One of them was the NBC News case, first reported in March. The 11-year-old American citizen, who recovered from a rare brain tumor, was denied medical care and is said to be “in a lamentable situation” while maintaining immigration custody with her non-citizen parents, according to a civil rights complaint filed by the girl’s family.
Another complaint included a four-year-old US citizen with stage 4 cancer who was taken to Honduras without access to his medicine when immigration authorities deported his mother in April.
Ossoff’s office did not send reports to DHS in advance, but had previously asked about some cases of recent surveillance to DHS.
When he spoke to Ossov’s office, the lawyer almost broke the wrist of a male detainee after being slammed into the ground and handcuffed “to get out of the dining room line,” claiming it was protected by an immigration processing center in El Paso, Texas. They also reported allegations that staff at Customs and Border Protection Facility would use “stress positions” to punish at least seven detainees for “laughter and conversation.”
At least two 911 calls in March and April from another processing center in California referenced reports on threats and sexual assault. Four other emergency calls reported similar claims from processing centers in South Texas, according to reports cited in the investigation.
For the investigation, Ossov staff said they interviewed dozens of people, including correctional workers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, and 46 immigrant detainees and their families. The case was also identified by a review of public reports and court records, as well as inspections of six immigration facilities in Texas and Georgia, according to the report.
Ossov’s office cited the DHS’ obstruction of council oversight as a factor limiting the ability to visit more sites and interview more detainees, the report said.
DHS did not directly respond to allegations of obstruction by the Senator when NBC News asked for a response.
Last month, NBC News reported similar allegations in Ossoff’s reports from immigration advocates and detainees held at detention centers in California, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, New Jersey, Florida and New York. They said they have experienced hunger, food shortages, illness and denial of access to lawyers.
The DHS previously denied all claims of inhumane conditions at immigration detention centres nationwide, as well as allegations of food shortages.
Senator staff began an investigation into allegations of immigration custody abuse after a complaint of detainees enduring abuse six months ago and claims of inadequate medical care while being detained in an unsanitary, overcrowded detention facility.
[ad_2]Source link
