We are a year and a half into this pandemic, and COVID remains an active threat within immigration detention centers in which private corporations profit from each migrant in their facility. Currently there are 532 confirmed active coronavirus cases. ICE.gov states that these cases are “currently under isolation or monitoring,” yet we know through the testimony of people we assisted through our Families Reunidas Bond Program that isolation and monitoring mean something entirely different from what the government reports.

Although testing began February 2020, it was not readily available. We can confirm that when we attempted posting bonds in the month of April, we were not allowed to do so in Otay because people in detention were in isolation in cohorts, with up to 100 people in one room. The sleeping arrangements consisted of a number of 6 people in bunk beds in a single cell, with people that were showing symptoms of covid; all of these 100 persons were crowded together with folks showing signs of fevers. Therefore, although 532 may seem like a low number, it’s extremely dangerous to a population being held in such close quarters, especially when there are up to 65 confirmed cases within a single detention prison.

According to this website, there have been 9 confirmed deaths in a detention center. 9 people who have died after testing positive for COVID-19 while in ICE custody, an enormous loss of life which was entirely preventable, and largely due to the neglect of these facilities. Which is why you to contact your elected representatives, both federal and local to end detention, to #freethemall.

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