On Monday, Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) called upon ICE to release detainees and improve conditions ICE detention centers as COVID-19 cases continue to increase. Since early 2020, the pandemic has taken the lives of nearly 120,000 Americans. States like Texas and Arizona house approximately 40 immigration detention centers, and are experiencing a surge in reported cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations. After visiting detention centers in Texas, Garcia and Castro spoke with reporters to detail the conditions they observed. Castro, who likened the centers to “petri dishes,” asserted that ICE “barely lifts a finger to make sure that these folks are safe.” Garcia similarly questioned ICE’s commitment to taking the precautions needed to avoid a severe health crisis within its centers. Garcia told reporters that while detainees have been able to make use of the masks they were provided with two weeks ago, the crowded conditions in which they live have not been conducive to proper social distancing. Other spaces that require individuals to live in close quarters, including prisons and nursing homes, have been the subject of scrutiny as the pandemic has ravaged the United States. Many of these spaces – particularly nursing homes – […]
↧