UCD study: Immigrants in ICE detention face high risks in pandemic
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Those imprisoned in immigration detention facilities across the country face underlying health conditions and often have chronic illnesses that would expose them to greater risk with COVID-19, a new UC Davis study suggests.
“The research is clear: Immigration detention is not only unnecessary for facilitating a just immigration system, but also causes extensive harm to detained people, perhaps especially to those facing chronic health conditions,” said the study’s lead author,
“This is particularly alarming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government must act quickly to permanently reduce reliance on this overly punitive and systematically unjust practice.”
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IMAGE: Immigrants imprisoned in immigration facilities across the country face health conditions and often have chronic illnesses that would expose them to greater risk with COVID-19. view more
Credit: Caitlin Patler
Immigrants imprisoned in immigration facilities across the country face health conditions and often have chronic illnesses that would expose them to greater risk with COVID-19, a new University of California, Davis, study suggests. The research is clear: immigration detention is not only unnecessary for facilitating a just immigration system, but also causes extensive harm to detained people, perhaps especially to those facing chronic health conditions, said the study s lead author, Caitlin Patler, professor of sociology. This is particularly alarming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government must act quickly to permanently reduce reliance on this overly punitive and systematically unjust practice.
Otay Mesa ICE Inmate Becomes First COVID-19 Death Among Detainees
By Sandra G. Leon
A man from El Salvador being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracted the COVID-19 virus in the facility and died at a local hospital after being on a ventilator for nearly a week.
Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, 57, who was being held at the Otay Mesa facility, had been was one of 202 detainees there that have tested positive for the deadly virus.
The first confirmed COVID-19 case among ICE detainees was reported in late March, and ICE reports that 674 detainees have tested positive of 1,346 that have been tested. Of those, 124 cases are at the Otay Mesa facility. In addition to the detainee cases, 39 ICE employees have tested positive, including 10 at the Otay mesa center.
By Kate Morrissey
The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS
SAN DIEGO - The family of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, who died in immigration custody after contracting the coronavirus during an outbreak at Otay Mesa Detention Center, has sued the federal government as well as the private prison company in charge of the facility.
Escobar Mejia was the first person to die in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of COVID-19. Eight in total have died from the virus since the pandemic began.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of California by Escobar Mejia s three siblings, alleges negligence, deliberate indifference to serious health and safety needs and wrongful death.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed by family of first person to die from COVID-19 in immigration custody [The San Diego Union-Tribune :: BC-CORONAVIRUS-DETAINEE-DEATH-LAWSUIT:SD]
SAN DIEGO – The family of Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, who died in immigration custody after contracting the coronavirus during an outbreak at Otay Mesa Detention Center, has sued the federal government as well as the private prison company in charge of the facility.
Escobar Mejia was the first person to die in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of COVID-19. Eight in total have died from the virus since the pandemic began.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of California by Escobar Mejia’s three siblings, alleges negligence, deliberate indifference to serious health and safety needs and wrongful death.