Several immigration and human rights organizations—including the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the National Immigration Law Center—are suing the Tucson Sector Border Patrol over the poor condition of detention centers and mistreatment of migrants.
The lawsuit filed today was based on the testimonies of more than 75 former detainees who say men, women and children were kept in freezing, overcrowded and dirty cells for long periods of time, were oftentimes abused by agents, and denied access to beds, showers, water, medical care and even legal representation, said a press release from the National Immigration Law Center.
They argue this is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
“Our plaintiffs were detained for civil matters, but there is nothing civil about being deprived of water, provided inadequate or expired food, and being subjected to sleep deprivation,” said Nora Preciado, staff attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, in a statement. “We filed this lawsuit because the federal government has systemically failed to adhere to its own meager standards and constitutional requirements and thousands of people have suffered as a result.”
From the press release:
Former and current detainees described being packed into crowded cells with only concrete benches or the floor for a “bed.” They were stripped of warm clothing and provided with only flimsy aluminum sheets that do not protect against the frigid temperatures. In most cases, the lights are left on 24 hours a day, making sleep difficult, if not impossible. Immigrants have no soap or water to wash after using the restroom and before meals, and do not have access to showers.
The government’s own standards state that people should be detained in holding cells like those in the Tucson Border Patrol facility for no more than 12 hours, but all of the plaintiffs were held for much longer. In fact, Border Patrol’s own records show that, during a six month period in 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained over 58,000 people for 24 hours or longer in holding cells within the Tucson Sector; more than 24,000 of these individuals were held for 48 hours or longer.
“Border Patrol seems to think these brutal conditions, and the human suffering that results, will deter immigration, but the fact is that many of these people are fleeing persecution and violence, reuniting with family, or are themselves U.S. citizens,” said a statement from James Duff Lyall, an attorney with ACLU of Arizona. “These policies and practices serve no legitimate purpose, violate the U.S. Constitution, and offend basic American values.”
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2015.
Oh c’mon! This is the equivalent of a large group of people crashing a small party (to which they were not invited) and complaining that there wasn’t enough of everything there to satisfy them and they weren’t catered to quickly enough. Next time, RSVP via the legal immigration path if you want better accommodations.
Call ahead. We’ll leave the light on.
They do understand that they are already breaking the law in the US when they cross the border-right–it’s not like they come across and are automatically entitled to be treated as special guests.
Unbelievable racism in Arizona… They are human beings
Yes. They are human beings who flooded into the US unannounced and are now having suits filed because we weren’t ready to accommodate them up to their standards. They were treated as humanely as possible given the chaotic circumstances which they themselves created. You must be confusing Border Patrol agents with people in the hospitality and child care industries, johnisasquare. By the way, you cheapen the concept of racism by throwing the term around so loosely simply to discredit those with whom you do not agree.
These comments are as disgusting as the human rights violations.
Sounds like the Border Patrol are doing a great job. Kudos to them! Your adversaries prove you are doing well…
“The government’s own standards state that people should be detained in holding cells like those in the Tucson Border Patrol facility for no more than 12 hours, but all of the plaintiffs were held for much longer. In fact, Border Patrol’s own records show that, during a six month period in 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained over 58,000 people for 24 hours or longer in holding cells within the Tucson Sector; more than 24,000 of these individuals were held for 48 hours or longer. “
Plaintiffs??? The world has truly turned upside-down when someone who has broken the law sues because the accommodations weren’t up to snuff. You’d think after all that traumatic-journey-fleeing-hostile-oppression, that 48 hours in relative safety with a roof over your head blocking the sun without fear of starving to death would be a step up. But this isn’t really about that. It’s about opening the borders and skipping this step altogether.
sad to say, we clearly treat rapists, child molesters, and murderers better than people coming here for a better life. You wouldn’t even exist if your immigrant ancestors had been treated this way. Clean water and facilities to relieve themselves are basic human rights. I wonder where all this hatred comes from? I always thought Tucson was a tolerant town. Please move to Phoenix with your kind of self involved ignorant people.
Tolerance is over rated Debra. Unlock your doors and leave them open at night so that anybody can come in and take what they would like. That’s tolerance. And one person’s tolerance is another’s insanity. We are a nation of laws. Stop ignoring some.
Detention centers need to be run correctly. Border Patrol is an organizational mess and seems to need new leadership.
Also we need to roll out E-Verify nationwide to remove the job magnet from the illegal immigrants. There is huge demand to immigrate to the U.S. and we are already overpopulated with the very high legal immigration rates. People who jump the line shouldn’t be rewarded with jobs, welfare, and amnesty.
To all Arizonans,
May you and YOUR family members be someday treated with the same level of humanity as you deem appropriate for these HUMAN BEINGS.
Now THAT would be Karma.
Sorry Bob Regan but you confuse humanity for people with illegal entrants into the country. We are feeding, housing, and flying many back home. That is humane. But we have laws and they have broken them. We wouldn’t have these issues if they obeyed our laws.
Karma can work both ways. Why do they hide/run?
I feel the need to ask why any one who comes here illegally is granted in your mind the same rights that are reserved for citizens. If these people were to come here legally then become citizens then awsome. If they want to 1 jump the fence 2 crawl or tunnel under the fence or3 find some other illegal way into the country then they are not citizens and therefore not worthy of the rights you say they deserve.
I am leaning towards mandatory military service for all Americans. That will stop the cries of, “OMG they are human beings you horrible racists.”
I served. We may all be human beings, but this is America. If you are not an American, a Legal Resident or Temporary Worker, too bad.
Resources for Americans. There comes a time when you have to stop pandering and living in this fantasy bubble that Mexico and poor South American Countries get the same rights as Puerto Rico and Guam. They want those rights? Sign the papers and make it official. They can’t have it both ways.
Stop spending money on detaining illegal aliens, tattoo and chip them. They come back again, forced work camps or military service for 10 years. If human life was so precious we wouldn’t treat our American veterans like we do, that is, less than human.
What I can’t figure out is why are these illegal aliens that knowingly broken the law are bitching? They cry that they came here to get away from crappy conditions, so they should feel right at home. Don’t like the detention cells then don’t break the law. There’s a right way and a wrong way of doing things.
I think it is because of the professional agitators already here Clifford. They are kind of like Al Sharpton is to a store robbery. If the robber was black, everybody else is a racist. It’s how they make their living.
No pun intended but it’s kind of like jungle tribes and war lords.
Bingo, David W. You hit the nail on the head.
I am going to throw the biggest party when Obama finally leaves office. I remember the rediculous multi million dollar display of fire works and black teachers Taking God out of songs and replacing it with Obama name. I pray that evil will be delt with an Americans will not get fired just so obama can put illegal I migrants in their jobs. I pray it won’t be too late to save our country from obama bringing our military and police down and leaving Americans open for attack. The worst president in history. I can’t believe I’m alive in this time to see this kind of evil
Sorry they can’t sue border patrol for doing their job! come here legally or not at all! DEPORT every single one of them! we are sick of you and no longer want illegals in our country! if you don’t like the way you are treated go home get a clue!
Screw them they shouldn’t be here in the first place.