The Adelanto Processing Center, an\nImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in southern\nCalifornia, has recently come under fire for its treatment of migrants amid the\nCOVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On May 21, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Freedom for Immigrants filed an official complaint<\/a> to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its usage of disinfectants on commonly touched surfaces in the facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent weeks, the complaint has garnered media attention<\/a> as well as a petition<\/a> to voice concerns. However, is the backlash at ICE warranted or is it simply an open borders disinformation campaign to release migrants from immigration detention? Let\u2019s break down some of the complaint\u2019s most controversial claims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The crux of the complaint revolves around the idea that officials in the facility are spraying \u201chazardous chemicals\u201d in a weaponized manner towards migrants. This accusation couldn\u2019t be farther from the truth as ICE must adhere to numerous detainee safety guidelines. These include using disinfectant formulas registered<\/a> by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following cleaning and disinfectant guidelines<\/a> set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and implementing environmental health and safety procedures<\/a> from the National Detention Standards. Additionally, it would make little practical sense for ICE to deviate from these guidelines. It faces heightened scrutiny from the open borders lobby and does not want to perpetuate the negative image it already receives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no question that disinfectants have the potential of bringing side effects to individuals. In fact, a reasonable argument can be made that any<\/a> <\/em>type of disinfectant could bring a side effect to an individual. What is distorted in the complaint, however, is how many individuals are actually being negatively affected by disinfectants. The personal testimony above mentions that \u201ceveryone in our facility\u201d has been harmed by disinfectants, but later in the complaint, it states that \u201cat least nine individuals housed in units across the facility\u201d have shown symptoms to disinfectants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality is that if only nine individuals out of the 1,300<\/a>-detainee population have reported negative symptoms related to disinfectants, that means that more than 99 percent of the detained population has experienced no problems with disinfectants. While the nine detainees should be treated for their symptoms immediately, it must be acknowledged that any solution involving disinfectants will not be foolproof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ending the usage of disinfectants\nwould jeopardize the entire detainee population and staff members in the facility\nas COVID-19 remains a threat. Removing COVID-19 safety procedures would not be\nsomething the open borders lobby or really anyone wants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wholesale release of migrants from detention would be reckless public policy. It would undermine our nation\u2019s judicial system, as migrants set for deportation have already had due process and a final order of removal. And those still waiting for their court date more often than not do not have valid asylum claims and would be unlikely<\/a> to show up to their hearing. The likely result is that most would disappear into the country and never be seen again. Public safety would also become potentially compromised as many<\/a> of the detainees have been convicted of more serious crimes than immigration offenses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea of releasing detained migrants at this specific facility has already been ruled out<\/a> by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In May, the circuit court reversed a lower-court judge\u2019s decision requiring the release of at least 250 detainees due to the COVID-19 outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is clear that the complaint brought by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Freedom for Immigrants is riddled with distortions and appears to be a political ploy to release migrants from detention. The nine migrants who have allegedly shown symptoms should not be neglected\u2014 and they won\u2019t be \u2014 as ICE offers a daily sick call, 24-hour emergency care, and invests more than $269 million<\/a> annually on healthcare services provided to detainees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Adelanto Processing Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in southern California, has recently come under fire for its treatment of migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 21, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Freedom for Immigrants filed an official complaint to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/p>\n