New Report: “No Human Being Should Be Held Here”: The Mistreatment of LGBTQ and HIV-Positive People in Federal Immigration Jails

Important new report published this month by Immigration Equality, the NIJC, and Human Rights First: “No Human Being Should Be Held Here”: The Mistreatment of LGBTQ and HIV-Positive People in Federal Immigration Jails.

Based on interviews with people held in ICE and CBP custody who identified as LGBTQ and HIV-positive, researchers found:

• One third reported sexual abuse, physical assaults or sexual harassment;
• A majority received inadequate medical care or were denied care altogether, including the majority of individuals living with HIV;
• About half reported new or increased mental health symptoms while in detention;
• Nearly all reported verbal abuse or threats of violence and assault that were homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, or racist;
• Many struggled to access counsel.

IE