ICE continues deportations as normal

Despite the imminent threat generated by the Coronavirus pandemic, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) continues with deportations during the health crisis.

In fact, official figures show that more immigrants have been deported during the last two months than before the pandemic arrival.

For this reason, ICE is being investigated by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Also, the investigation is taking place due to the number of complaints related to the lack of safety and hygiene protocols in immigration detention centers around the country.

ICE’s alarming revelation

On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, several ICE officials accepted that there is negligence from the staff in charge of health precautions during the current juncture.

They stated that there are not enough Coronavirus tests available to use with all detained immigrants and those facing deportation processes.

According to the official statement, ICE representatives assure that there are certain protocols they are following, but the protocols recommended by the World Health Organization are not fully followed:

• ICE conducts tests for Coronavirus, however, only for a portion of detained immigrants.
• ICE monitors symptoms and asks some routine questions to rule out possible positive cases of COVID-19.

What is the problem with these protocols?

Despite ICE’s attempt to use all possible resources to find Coronavirus cases among detained immigrants, the current protocols pose an abysmal risk for multiple reasons.

Let’s see some of them:

• It is scientifically proven that a very high percentage of people infected with Coronavirus do not feel the symptoms, therefore, conducting a symptom survey does not prevent someone from being asymptomatic carrier of the virus.
• Immigration detention centers are heavily overcrowded, increasing the risk of a massive outbreak of Coronavirus at ICE facilities.
• If ICE health personnel could perform more tests of Coronavirus, they could isolate infected immigrants, even if they do not have symptoms, and prevent them from carrying the virus.
• ICE employees are also at imminent risk by constantly being in contact with detained immigrants. They also need to take care of their families and the minimum they deserve is health protection.
• Everyday, hundreds of immigrants are being deported to Central American countries. Due to the fact that ICE is not conducting the necessary tests on all deportees, it is creating a giant threat to these countries.

If you need specialized help with a Deportation Case, please click here.

Central America’s concern regarding current deportations

Due to the alarming number of people infected with COVID-19 in North American territory, the US government decided to allow express deportations during the pandemic.

Basically, this means that the regular protocols for deportations are not being fully followed during the health crisis.

This has generated much controversy among the Central American governments and they present several valid argument:

1. The countries of Central America have limited local resources and the economic structure is not completely stable to protect the entire population in the event of a massive outbreak of Coronavirus in their territories.
2. The infrastructure of the medical sector is not prepared to help the most delicate cases of Coronavirus.
3. The percentage of people infected with COVID-19 in Central American territory has increased considerably in recent weeks due to deportations from the US.
   For instance, more than 25% of the positive cases in Guatemala come from deported immigrants.
4. Now that ICE accepts that it is not using the Coronavirus test in all deported immigrants, Central America claims the lack of sensitivity from the US government.

Despite the arguments of the Central American governments, the current administration of the US threatens to sanction countries that do not receive immigrants deported during the health crisis.

Therefore, Central American countries are obligated to receive all deportees, even with the imminent threat of a possible massive outbreak of Coronavirus and the saturation of their health system.

Immigrant rights advocates also raise their voices

Besides Central American governments that have attempted to communicate their concerns to Trump’s administration, thousands of immigrant rights advocates also complain about the mass deportations amid a global pandemic.

They mention the danger of deporting the virus to less favored territories and complain about deportations of unaccompanied minors.

Trump’s administration responds to criticism

In light of the controversy regarding deportations, the Trump government announced that normal deportation protocols will be gradually re-implemented.

In addition to that, the US Supreme Court of Justice intervened on the issue of deportations, giving immigrants the opportunity to appeal deportation cases in some specific circumstances.

It is possible to avoid these situations for your family!

In times of crisis, the best solution is to seek the help of experts to properly submit immigration requests and avoid deportation at all costs.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.