Immigrant rights groups have appealed to federal oversight agencies to make U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement do more to protect detainees from the coronavirus.
The move came on the heels of the agency reporting the first in-custody death due to COVID-19.
The complaint was sent to Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, plus the Department’s Office of Inspector General. It has testimonials from two Mexican asylum-seekers, with health problems, held in Arizona.
A woman in the Eloy Detention Center said soap is given out once a week, and it’s not enough for frequent hand washing. At the nearby La Palma Correctional Center, a man said he helps in the kitchen, and has worked alongside staff who appeared sick. But he can’t sanitize the things he has to touch to do his job.
The complaint offers ways for ICE to keep people safe from COVID-19.
ICE did not comment.
