Gay Immigrants Allege Human Rights Abuses at ICE Detention Centers

Here is another troubling story about immigrant detention.  Yesterday, immigrant advocates filed 13 complaints with the Department of Homeland Security alleging civil and human rights abuses of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender immigrants being detained pending removal proceedings. The Heartland Alliance National Immigrant Justice Center wants the agency’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to investigate the treatment of sexual minorities in DHS custody, craft policies to address any violations and oversee their implementation.  According to the complaint, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender detainees experienced abuses including sexual assault, solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and discrimination. For example, Steve, a gay Peruvian asylum seeker, was held in solitary confinement for almost six weeks “on the sole basis that he is HIV-positive,” the complaint alleges. “Officers frequently prohibited Steve from leaving his cell to get his HIV medication. Steve was traumatized when he sought medical treatment and an officer refused to remove the shackles on his feet, waist, and hands, despite pleas from his doctor.”

A Human Rights Watch report from a couple of years ago entitled “Chronic Indifference” concluded that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security fails to collect basic information to monitor immigrant detainees with HIV/AIDS, has sub-standard policies and procedures for ensuring appropriate HIV/AIDS care and services, and inadequately supervises the care that is provided. The consequence of this willful indifference is poor care, untreated infection, increased risk of resistance to HIV medications, and even death.

KJ