ICE Detainees Reveal Human Rights Violations at Detention Facilities
ICE detainees in the privately-owned South Louisiana Corrections Facility in Basile, Louisiana are on their fifth hunger strike in four weeks to protest inhumane conditions that violate human rights and ICE standards for detention.
"During July 2009, over 100 detainees acted as human rights monitors inside the jail," says New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice. "Over the course of a month, detainee human rights monitors recorded complaints, attempted to lodge hundreds of grievances, and communicated with advocates about jail conditions."
NOWCRJ released the report the same week the Obama Administration rejected a federal court petition by former detainees and their families calling for legally enforceable standards for immigration detention.
Immigrants' physical and mental health has deteriorated, the report states, as a result of ICE's failure to provide its minimum standards in the following areas:
- Medical Care
- Hunger Strikes
- Disciplinary Policy and Administrative and Disciplinary Segregation: Special Management Units
- Access to Legal Materials
- Telephone Access and Correspondence and Other Mail
- Issuance and Exchange of Clothing, Bedding and Towels
- Food Service
- Religious Practices
Detainees say they were not medically evaluated when they arrived at the facility, which conflicts with agency procedures. Living conditions are described as unsanitary and rats are a common nuisance; the sick are housed with the well; and basic necessities such as proper clothing, food and personal hygiene items, are said to be lacking.
"We are not animals, and don’t deserve to be treated like animals. We are human beings."
"I am preparing to die here in detention. I hope my body will provide testimony that the system needs to change."
"We deserve basic dignity and respect."
The full report is available on the NOWCRJ home page.
Learn more about ICE health standards for detention facilities and the authority that manages medical care for ICE detainees.
Comments
THESE PEOPLE NEEDED TO BE TREATED AS ANY OTHER PERSON THE STREETS. NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED. ITS TRUE THEY ARENT ANIMALS. AM PRETTY SURE ICE HAVE IMMIGRANTS AS FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND CO WORKERS.I KNOW I DO . ITS NOT FAIR TO TREAT PEOPLE THESE PEOPLE LIKE THAT. THESE PEOPLE COME HERE TO BUILD A FAMILY AND MAKE MUCH OF THEIR TIME IN WORKING AND HOLDING UP A FAMILY.MOST WORK THERE ASSES OFF TO MAINTAIN A LIFE HERE. LET THEM BE. GO CHASE AFTER REAL CRIMINALS.
THERE ARE SO MANY CONVICTED CRIMINALS ON THE LOOSE. WHO’S LOOKING FOR THEM. NO ONE I BET.HOW MANY MEN AND WOMAN ARE ABUSING CHILDREN. MEN RAPING WOMEN. MEN SHOOT MEN… WHO’S LOOKING FOR THESE PEOPLE. NO ONE.
WHO’S REALLY IN CHARGE OF THIS.
Would our treatment of immigration detainees affect how US citizens are treated when detained in foreign countries?
I know personally what they are going throught. My husband was detained at Lupkin detention center in Lupkin GA for 7 months. The injustices and the horrifying experiences that they underwent should not happen. They were denied of the most basic things in life. This are real people with real feelings and they should be treated in that manner. My husband was release after 7 months. Our family lost 7 months of our lifes that we could never get back. My husband and I are happy that they are fighting for they basic rights to be treated as a human being .
I DONT KNOW IF YOU DONT NOTICE. BUT MOST OF THESE CRIMINALS ARE US CITIZENS. ITS THE IMMIGRANTS WORKING FOR THESE CITIZENS AND THEY ARE GETTING PAID NO TYPE OF MONEY. OPEN UP YOUR EYES
Cressida: i know what you’re saying but it really shouldn’t be a tit-for-tat deal; people shouldn’t be treated rightly in the US in order to ensure US citizens are treated rightly elsewhere, but because they’re human beings and there’s a basic standard of humane treatment we all have rights to.
The fact that Obama has just refused to support the petition for these basic standards to become enforced and enforceable…well, coupled with his refusal to come through on his promises for gay marriage and repeal of DADT, he’s really shown himself to be the exact opposite of what he promised. It’s disgraceful.
Hard to believe that inhumanity is happening in the United States of America…”The Land of the Free”..When there is inhumanity in any certain country, United States acts as the POLICEMAN extending support, Aid, and political envoys to resolve Inhumanities and promotes fredom,liberty,and fair humane treatment of its people…Sad to know that in its own(USA) backyard,we can obviously witness Americans committing and violating the human rights of the people regardless of where they came from. This makes me puke..
I think America needs to be educated in their own land before they can effectively extend support to other counries in resolving the issues of INHUMANITY..
Here is my last word…”CLEAN YOUR OWN BACK YARD FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN CLEAN OTHER’S”
I want the citizens to know that not all the people that are in detention centers are all criminals, some of then are hard working permanent residents.They have being paying taxes, own home, have sons, wife that have served this country. Just because they made a mistake 20 years ago. We need to understand this that all those DETENTION CENTERS ARE PRIVELY OWN . I also would like to let the people know that we as citizens pay this corporation $100.00 a day per inmated most are keep in there for more than a year for no reason, if they want to deport then to there country why hold then for that long? but that is how they make there money. WE KNOW THAT IN OUR HEARTS WE ARE ALL AMERICAN EVEN THOUGHT THERE PASSPORT MAY SAY OTHERWISE. WHAT MAKES AN AMERICAN IS NOT CONTAINED WITHIN A DOCUMENT, BUT DEPENDS UPON INDIVIDUAL’S RELATIONSHIP AND LOYALTY TO HIS COUNTRY.
Yes, it’s all sad but true. Our friend was shipped off to Basile LA – no one, not even his attorney could make contact with him for over a month. We had put money into his “account” there and sent phone cards, all which he never received. He is a diabetic and they denied him ALL INSULIN, AND MEDICAL TREATMENT, they had no exercise or was even able to move in their cell *which was supposed to house 2 inmates – had 15* WITH ONE URINAL AND ONE SINK.
He was never able to even purchase “real food” that came by on a cart. He was in leg chains and when in the shower, slipped and fell because they don’t remove them – he never received medical treatment for his injury and when he was finally released to Mexico, he could not walk and had severe nerve and muscle damage that required extensive nurosurgery and therapy. His is just ONE case, there are many.
Because it is a PRIVATELY OWNED PRISON, THEY DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO – THEY DO NOT ANSWER TO ANYONE.