FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:
September 16, 2020
Luis Zambrano
USEE’s
Communication Director
(602) 761-6696
Earlier this week, several news stories detailed horrendous and heinous acts committed by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Emerging reports state that immigrant women have been coerced into getting hysterectomies for sterilization without consent or knowledge of what they were about to undergo.
A complaint made in Georgia against the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) by a whistleblower revealed disgusting medical neglect of the immigrant detainees involving both the hysterectomies and COVID-19. These include employees working while symptomatic, no administration of COVID-19 tests, and the previously mentioned high rates of hysterectomies on the women inmates, and these are just some of the gross abuse committed by ICE and their facilities.
Several Arizona congressional lawmakers are calling for an investigation into these reports. We as USEE are horrified by these whistleblower allegations, and our hearts ache for those affected by these actions. We are calling for immediate action from every institution in the government to hold ICE accountable for its appalling actions and human rights violations.
An investigation is needed to ensure that no more women are forced to suffer and or will be violated by a government that cares less about the lives of people of color and immigrants.