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@GovAcctProj
Apr 6 • 10 tweets • 9 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
Thank you @iamjohnoliver & @LastWeekTonight for reporting abusive solitary confinement in our criminal justice and civil immigration systems.

Our #whistleblower client Ellen Gallagher has tried to stop the use in @ICEgov detention for 9+ years.

THREAD 🧵
Solitary confinement has been defined as torture by the @UN, and the incredible harm to detained individuals is well documented.

ohchr.org/en/press-relea…; digitallibrary.un.org/record/745883?…
In 2014, Ellen Gallagher, discovered documentation of the widespread use of solitary confinement for civil immigration detainees, often for months & even years.

The use of solitary confinement violated federal guidelines & protections under disability law.
Ellen first tried to raise concerns internally at @DHSgov, including to then-Deputy DHS secretary @AliMayorkas & by filing complaints with the Office of Special Counsel & @DHSOIG.

icij.org/investigations…
After years of speaking up internally to no avail, Ellen went public with @ICIJorg in 2019:

nbcnews.com/video/whistleb…
In November 2021, we sent a Statement for the Record to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging them to confront DHS @SecMayorkas about ICE’s abusive use of solitary confinement, about which he had known about for more than 7 years.

Read the letter here 👇
whistleblower.org/press-release/…
We continue to support Ellen's calls to end solitary confinement in @ICEgov detention by urging Congress to act.

Watch this congressional briefing hosted by @JoaquinCastrotx and @NIJC featuring @AltafSaadiMD, & those with stories from @ICEgov detention:
immigrantjustice.org/press-releases…
We applaud @JudiciaryDems’ efforts to stop ICE’s abusive use of solitary confinement: ⬇

whistleblower.org/press/press-st…
More needs to be done. We urge @SenatorDurbin, @SenBooker & @KamalaHarris to continue their vital efforts to limit the use of solitary in @ICEgov detention:
booker.senate.gov/news/press/boo…
We hope they will be joined by @SenWaren, @SenCoonsOffice, @SenatorLeahy, @ChrisMurphyCT & @SenBrianSchatz who have recently introduced legislation to limit its use @BureauOfPrisons:
judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/rele…

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More from @GovAcctProj

Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Sep 8, 2021
NEW: We’ve filed a third complaint with federal oversight agencies detailing abuses at the Fort Bliss Emergency Intake Site and other sites for undocumented immigrant children.

THREAD ⬇️
1/ The information disclosed in this complaint from an anonymous whistleblower includes daily instances of gross mismanagement endangering public health and safety, much like our previous two disclosures.
2/ However, this complaint goes further and reveals identical abuses at two other sites holding undocumented immigrant children, showing that the problems scale across the EIS network.

Fort Bliss was not unique.
Read 7 tweets
Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Sep 7, 2021
Almost one year after our whistleblower client Dawn Wooten disclosed medical abuse at Irwin County Detention Center, the federal government has finally moved out all detained immigrants. ajc.com/news/all-ice-d…
Last week, we joined #immigration advocates calling for government records on ending ICE operations at Irwin County Detention Center, a facility with a long track record of abuse. whistleblower.org/press-release/…
Our client Ms. Wooten disclosed reports of shredding medical requests from detainees, failing to protect against the spread of #COVID19, and several detained immigrant women undergoing forced sterilizations with dubious consent.
Read 4 tweets
Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Jul 7, 2021
🚨 Today, Government Accountability Project disclosed abuses about the Fort Bliss, Texas Emergency Intake Site for undocumented immigrant children by letter to federal oversight agencies on behalf of our whistleblower clients.

THREAD ⬇️
1/ While at Fort Bliss, our whistleblower clients and current federal civil servants were eyewitnesses to daily instances of gross mismanagement specifically endangering public health and safety.

Problems witnessed included:
2/ ➡️ Undue reliance on unskilled private contractor, Servpro, a fire and water damage repair company;

➡️ Mismanagement from overwhelming size and structure of dormitory tents; and

➡️ Oversight and case management failures.
Read 6 tweets
Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Jul 6, 2021
Here are a few of the whistleblower stories we're reading in the latest edition of our newsletter, #TheDisclosure.

⬇️⬇️⬇️
Immigration whistleblowers sent a letter to Congress to urge the Biden administration to immediately develop a comprehensive plan to vaccinate immigrants detained in ICE facilities. whistleblower.org/in-the-news/cn…
Contracts granted to two of the major companies vying to fuel U.S. bases in Iraq expose the hypocrisy of America’s military mission abroad.

In his latest investigation, our @ZackKopplin reveals the nefarious actors working with the US military. whistleblower.org/in-the-news/th…
Read 5 tweets
Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Dec 3, 2020
🚨 The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has found "substantial likelihood" of wrongdoing by Voice of America/U.S. Agency for Global Media political leadership. We’ve filed multiple whistleblower complaints alleging this abuse of power and applaud the OSC decision.

Learn more ⤵️
1/ Our complaints alleged that CEO Michael Pack and other political leadership at USAGM, which oversees VOA, engaged in gross mismanagement; abused their authority; violated laws, rules, or regulations; and created a substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.
2/ OSC reviewed the allegations and determined there was a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing and directed CEO Pack to investigate and report back to OSC on actions that have occurred since he was confirmed by the Senate.
Read 7 tweets
Government Accountability Project Profile picture
Oct 23, 2020
Last week a senior DHS official attempted to chill potential whistleblowers when he warned employees in a directive that unauthorized disclosures could be in violation of agency policy and federal law. Gag orders like this violate whistleblowing and free speech rights. THREAD ⬇️
1/ Why is this illegal? Because the blanket ban on unauthorized disclosures failed to include statutorily mandated language informing employees that their whistleblower rights supersede any non-disclosure restrictions.
2/ This latest action mirrors past attempts by DHS to illegally attempt to prevent employees from speaking out in fear of violating agency policy or being reported by their colleagues. We challenged a similar directive with AFGE in November 2019. …ress-350926-1087337.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/upl…
Read 6 tweets

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