When President Trump and ICE got in on the act of separating families and locking kids in cages, it spurred a public outcry. Millions of people were appalled that the land of the free would treat people in such a manner—especially people who were counting on the United States to provide safety, as they were often fleeing life-threatening situations. As usual in this country, the news cycle changed, and a majority of the public stopped talking about it. Then COVID-19 came, and the call to release detainees has picked up again, a call to save lives, a call to treat people like humans. As the pandemic continues to dominate our lives, the threat of coronavirus spreading in detention centers became a reality. What's not real: the response from ICE and the federal government. In episode 5, we don’t just look the dire situation for the people, but ask what, if anything, can be done about it.
Juan Carlos Peña from Cuba has been in ICE detention for a year in Cibola County Correctional Center, which is run by the corporation CoreCivic in Milan, N.M. He’s 51 and has asthma, and minutes before he spoke with reporter Yasmin Khan, he found out his latest appeal for release was denied. New Mexico’s Department of Health reported 314 cases of coronavirus cases in the center as of Friday, Aug. 14. The compound in Milan, N.M. houses federal prisoners, state inmates and ICE detainees.
Arifa Raza is an attorney with the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. She tells us removals are at a standstill during the pandemic, and the mental health of clients is declining. It can be hard to get ahold of clients, she says, and when they do speak, it’s over the phone, so they may not feel as comfortable raising concerns as they would in-person.
We hear from Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Deb Haaland about a lack of accountability for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and whether Congress could intervene by defunding ICE.
Statement from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement: ICE would not do an interview, but spokesperson Leticia Zemarripa provided this statement via email: "Since March 11, ICE has screened individuals for elevated temperatures and symptoms associated with COVID-19 prior to a removal flight or transfer. Any detainee with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher (99 degrees or higher starting April 22) was immediately referred to a medical provider for further evaluation and observation. In an effort to avoid removing aliens with active COVID-19 cases, on April 26, ICE began testing some aliens in custody and prior to removal. Where DHS/ICE deems detainee testing is warranted/appropriate by specific bilateral agreement, ICE coordinates with foreign governments to prioritize testing of detainees per evolving operational considerations. When an individual does not pass the mandated temperature/medical screening (or tests positive), prior to a removal flight, they are returned to ICE detention facilities and cohorted separate from the rest of the detention population in accordance with CDC guidance."
The agency also says all detainees are tested upon intake and monitored for 14 days, and they get a comprehensive medical exam within those first two weeks. All cases are medically cleared before transfers or removals, according to ICE.
No More Normal is brought to you by Your New Mexico Government, a collaboration between KUNM, New Mexico PBS, and the Santa Fe Reporter. Funding is provideNew Mexico Local News Fund, the Kellogg Foundation a KUNM listeners like you, with support for public media provided by the Thornburg Foundation.
