Demand for Reform in Treatment of Detainees
Author: Attorney Alena Shautsova
The New York University School of Law through an immigrant-rights clinic recently released a report indicating mistreatment of immigrant detainees held in Essex County.
Conditions included denial of medical help, inadequate nutrition (1,000 to 1,500 calories a day), and unsanitary and freezing spaces. The 39 page report details more than 1,200 detainees are being held under such substandard conditions, which are not up to the Immigration and Custom's Enforcement (ICE) agency's own requirements.
This report sparked a response from U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, a strong advocate for immigrant's rights. He delivered a compelling argument in a speech at a conference addressing the treatment of immigrant detainees. He opined that detainee maltreatment was the civil rights issue of our times and demanded reform. He called for reform measures that offered alternatives to detention and access to justice for detainees. Menendez also cited an incident which occurred over a year ago where a Ghana immigrant died while in detainment for lack of medical treatment.
Seeking legal help can make a difference
If you have relatives here in the United States who face deportation and wish to become permanent residents, consult a skilled New York lawyer for legal help. Getting legal help is best way to obtain legal status and avoid deportation.