June 25, 2008
On June 13, 2007, the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of immigrant detainees at San Diego Correctional Facility (SDCF), charging that inadequate medical and mental health care have caused unnecessary suffering and, in several cases, avoidable death.
On October 4, 2007, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law will hear testimony on the issue of medical care in immigrant detention. Congress must ensure that detained immigrants receive treatment that reflects America's fundamental values.
Representative Zoe Lofgren has now introduced H.R. 5950, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008, in May of 2008. This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop procedures to ensure adequate medical care for all detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation also requires ICE to report detainee deaths to the DHS and Department of Justice Offices of Inspector General.
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LEARN MORE
> News: ACLU and Victims of Inadequate Medical Care in Immigration Detention Tell Congress to Prevent More Deaths (10/4/2007)
> Fact Sheet: ACLU Calls on Congress to Improve and Codify Immigration Detention Standards
> News: ACLU Calls on Immigration Officials to Release Information About Immigrant Detention Deaths (6/27/2007)
> Woods v. Myers: ACLU Sues Over Lack of Medical Treatment at San Diego Detention Facility
> Kiniti v. Wagner: ACLU Sues US Immigration Officials and For-Profit Corrections Corporation Over Dangerous and Inhumane Housing of Detainees (1/24/2007)
> AUDIO: Testimony from Victims and ACLU Staff
