Lieberman Seeks Better Treatment Of Detained Immigrants

Tue. May 13, 2008


Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman plans to introduce legislation to improve the way the Homeland Security Department treats detained immigrants, saying the department has not followed through on promised changes. The legislation would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve standards and medical care for detainees who are waiting to be deported and individuals who want to become U.S. citizens, such as asylum seekers. "Every year we detain in harsh prison conditions tens of thousands of people fleeing oppression and poverty and seeking a better life here," Lieberman said in a statement Monday. "While it is being determined whether or not they are entitled to live in the United States, we must ensure that they are detained and housed in safe and humane facilities where they receive appropriate medical care and by funding secure alternatives to detention where possible." Lieberman included a similar bill as an amendment to the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill last summer. After that legislation failed to become law, Lieberman received assurances from Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff that improvements in standards and health care for detainees would be made through administrate changes, a Lieberman aide said. But nearly a year later, Lieberman does not believe Chertoff has followed through on his promises, the aide added. "They did not administratively implement the compromise reforms to the senator's satisfaction," the aide said.

An ICE spokeswoman said today that the agency will review Lieberman's legislation. "We appreciate the senator and the work that he does and we look forward to working with him," she said, but she added that ICE has improved both the quality of care for detainees and oversight of detention facilities since last summer. On any given day, ICE holds 33,000 illegal immigrants in more than 300 facilities nationwide. Since ICE was created in 2003, 71 of 1.5 million detainees have died while in custody, she said. "While any death is regrettable and sad, I think the statistic is pretty significant," she said. ICE has contracted with Creative Corrections of Texas to conduct annual reviews of federal and private detention facilities, and has hired inspectors from Maryland-based Nakamoto Group, she added. Additionally, in February 2007, ICE created its own inspection group to evaluate detention facilities and to investigate deaths of detainees or allegations of misconduct. The spokeswoman added that every detainee is given a healthcare exam and that those in detention for longer than 14 days receive a complete physical. ICE spends about $100 million on health care for detainees per year, she added.

Lieberman said his legislation is needed in response to recent news accounts describing mistreatment of detainees. According to his office, the legislation would improve medical care and access to legal counsel for detainees, and require special treatment for victims of persecution or torture and their families. It would give detainees more access to programs allowing for their release from detention facilities under supervision or parole. The bill also would require interviews with detained asylum seekers to be recorded. A new Homeland Security office would be established to audit and investigate how detention facilities are complying with laws and regulations, and it would report its findings to Congress.

by Chris Strohm