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🚨 NEW: DHS Office of Inspector General's report on "dangerous overcrowding" at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center is now out.
900 people held in a facility designed for 125!
In one case, "a cell with a maximum capacity of 35 held 155 detainees."
oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/…
900 people held in a facility designed for 125!
In one case, "a cell with a maximum capacity of 35 held 155 detainees."
oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/…
DHS OIG visited five different CBP facilities in the El Paso area over the week of May 6, 2019. What they found was massively overcrowded cells with asylum seekers packed in like sardines.
In one case, the Border Patrol had put 76 women into a cell designed for just twelve.
In one case, the Border Patrol had put 76 women into a cell designed for just twelve.
One cell was designed for just 8 people. But the Inspector General found 41 women forced into it.
According to the OIG, "overcrowding and prolonged detention represent an immediate risk to the health and safety not just of the detainees, but also DHS agents and officers."
According to the OIG, "overcrowding and prolonged detention represent an immediate risk to the health and safety not just of the detainees, but also DHS agents and officers."
According to the Border Patrol's records, 502 people had been held in standing-room only conditions for more than three days, despite policies requiring transfer within 72 hours.
33 people were in these conditions for more than TWO WEEKS!
33 people were in these conditions for more than TWO WEEKS!
Some people had to wear "soiled clothing for days or weeks."
Inspectors saw "detainees standing on toilets in the cells to make room and gain breathing space, thus limiting access to the toilets."
No jail in the US forces people into conditions this awful. Can you imagine?
Inspectors saw "detainees standing on toilets in the cells to make room and gain breathing space, thus limiting access to the toilets."
No jail in the US forces people into conditions this awful. Can you imagine?
Making matters worse, many people, including families had "all [their] property" other than valuables thrown away, because Border Patrol said suitcases/backpacks "might be ... a biohazard."
This picture is devastating. Poor kid is never going to see her dolly again.
This picture is devastating. Poor kid is never going to see her dolly again.
The OIG's report describes conditions in government custody beyond horrible, in violation of every governing law and policy, and that pose an "immediate risk" to "health and safety."
So surely CBP has plans to fix this ASAP, right?
Nope. They want until NOVEMBER 2020!
So surely CBP has plans to fix this ASAP, right?
Nope. They want until NOVEMBER 2020!
Even more shockingly, DHS admitted to the Inspector General that it "has not identified a process to alleviate issues with overcrowding."
Despite months of conditions like this. Despite multiple deaths. Despite Congress demanding answers.
DHS still doesn't have a plan!
Despite months of conditions like this. Despite multiple deaths. Despite Congress demanding answers.
DHS still doesn't have a plan!
My colleague @shepherd_kt wrote that "as long as the U.S. government fails to address the inadequate medical care in its detention centers...children will continue to perish in government custody."
The conditions described by OIG raise that risk of harm.
immigrationimpact.com/2019/05/21/dea…
The conditions described by OIG raise that risk of harm.
immigrationimpact.com/2019/05/21/dea…
Unfortunately, conditions like the ones described by OIG are not new, although they are worse now than ever before.
In 2016, at @immcouncil we published "Detained Beyond Limit," a report showing that CBP routinely held people longer than 72 hours. americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/prolo…
In 2016, at @immcouncil we published "Detained Beyond Limit," a report showing that CBP routinely held people longer than 72 hours. americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/prolo…
At @immcouncil we also sued the Tucson Sector Border Patrol along with other orgs, over the conditions in their "hieleras." We won a preliminary injunction forcing them to improve conditions, including requiring Border Patrol to provide mats to sleep on. americanimmigrationcouncil.org/litigation/cha…
Today's OIG report shows that the fight to hold CBP accountable continues.
Recently, @ACLUTx and @ACLU_BRC filed another complaint with OIG about conditions in the Rio Grande Valley. Some conditions were worse than in El Paso!
I wrote about it here.
immigrationimpact.com/2019/05/23/wor…
Recently, @ACLUTx and @ACLU_BRC filed another complaint with OIG about conditions in the Rio Grande Valley. Some conditions were worse than in El Paso!
I wrote about it here.
immigrationimpact.com/2019/05/23/wor…
No one, no child, no adult, no family, should ever be forced into the conditions described today by the OIG.
We can, and must do better.
Once again, here's the link to the report:
oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/…
We can, and must do better.
Once again, here's the link to the report:
oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/…
A brief addendum: @HomelandDems has the same pictures I provided above, but in higher detail and with faces blurred instead of white blocks over faces. In these pictures you can get a better sense of the just how awful this overcrowding is.
Truly awful.
Truly awful.
The cell in this picture is designed to hold a maximum of twelve people. But the Inspector General says Border Patrol put 76 women into it.
66% of people held in the facility were there for more than THREE DAYS.
I'd go crazy if you put me in those conditions for three hours.
66% of people held in the facility were there for more than THREE DAYS.
I'd go crazy if you put me in those conditions for three hours.
