The Department of Homeland Security denied any wrongdoing after Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) claimed he had evidence of abuse occurring at detention centers.
DHS issued a press release on Thursday refutations stating his claims were “debunked,” providing a summary of realities as rebuttals to several of Ossoff’s most egregious claims.
Ossoff announced on Wednesday that he had a report that identified more than 500 incidents of “credible reports of human rights abuse” in detention centers throughout the country. The senator announced the report contained evidence of widespread mistreatment of those detained, stemming from “deaths in custody” to “mistreatment of children” to “denials of legal representation.”
“To date, the Senator’s office has received and identified 510 credible reports of human rights abuse against immigrants since January 20, including those described in this publication,” read the report.
“The Senator’s staff has received or identified 41 credible reports that individuals have been physically and/or sexually abused while in DHS custody,” noted the investigation. “Detainees have reported being beaten by detention facility staff and placed in solitary confinement after reporting their abuse.”
DHS called the information “false reporting” motivated by a political agenda.
“Politicians stayed quiet as the Biden administration lost 450,000 unaccompanied migrant children and opened our border to terrorists and gang members,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Yet now, these same politicians are peddling FALSE claims that rely on inaccurate reporting to score political points.”
“Senator Ossoff’s false allegations of subprime conditions have been debunked time and time again by DHS,” McLaughlin added. “ICE detention facilities have higher standards than most U.S. prisons that detain American citizens. All detainees are provided with comprehensive medical care, proper meals, and are given the opportunity to call their family members and attorneys.”
The DHS release then provided refutations against many of the accusations in Ossof’s report.
For example, Ossoff claimed that there were “14 credible reports that pregnant women have been mistreated in DHS custody, including not receiving adequate medical care and timely checkups, not receiving urgent care when needed, being denied snacks and adequate meals, and being forced to sleep on the floor due to overcrowding.”
In response, DHS said that, “Pregnant women receive regular prenatal visits, mental health services, nutritional support, and accommodations aligned with community standards of care. Detention of pregnant women is rare and has elevated oversight and review. No pregnant woman has been forced to sleep on the floor.”
Another example is Ossoff’s accusation of “18 reports of children as young as two years old, including U.S. citizens, being mistreated in DHS custody. Three of these children reportedly experienced severe medical issues while in detention and were denied adequate medical treatment.”
DHS replied that illegal immigrants are provided extensive medical care upon arrival at detention centers and “from the moment they enter ICE custody.”
“This includes medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care,” noted DHS. “For many of these children, this is the best healthcare they have received in their entire lives.”
Additionally, Ossoff accused ICE of neglecting detainees by failing to provide them with food or snacks, and that they were “forced to sleep on the floor.” Yet, DHS called these accusations false, citing that facilities are regularly audited to ensure compliance with national standards.
“ICE is regularly audited and inspected by external agencies to ensure all facilities comply with performance-based national detention standards,” DHS noted in the release. “Any claim there is a lack of food or subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false. ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”
“All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers,” DHS added. “Meals are certified by dieticians.”
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Additionally, DHS noted that neither Ossoff nor any of his staff were “denied a tour or access to an ICE facility.” Furthermore, DHS emphasized that, “At no time during any ICE facility visits were any concerns or complaints raised to facility staff.”
“These false allegations are garbage and are part of the reason ICE agents are now facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them,” McLaughlin added about Ossoff’s accusations.