A federal judge ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to improve conditions at a New York detention facility after it became the center of scrutiny over allegations of overcrowding.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled that ICE had to immediately reduce the number of inmates, ensure cleanliness, and provide sleeping mats for illegal immigrants being held at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, a government building being used as a temporary holding facility for people detained in President Donald Trump’s expanded deportation efforts. The facility has struggled to hold the influx of new arrivals.
Lawyers representing detainees put forth allegations of cramped and unsanitary conditions, such as open-air toilets and a lack of beds or mattresses. They claimed they were given no toothbrushes, soap, or hygiene products.
“My conclusion here is that there is a very serious threat of continuing irreparable injury given the conditions that I’ve been told about,” Kaplan said at a Tuesday hearing.
The government lawyer, Jeffrey S. Oestericher, conceded that some of the complaints were valid and would be dealt with, the Associated Press reported.
“I think we all agree that conditions at 26 Federal Plaza need to be humane, and we obviously share that belief,” he said, adding that he agreed “inhumane conditions are not appropriate and should not be tolerated.”
Scrutiny was directed against the Manhattan ICE facility last month after videos released by the New York Immigration Coalition showed cramped conditions. A letter from Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander claimed the conditions “may pose a danger to human life.”
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Kaplan ruled that ICE must allocate 50 square feet per detainee, meaning the largest hold room would shrink to roughly 15 people. Detainees alleged that 40 people were being held in the room at once.
Trump’s massive increase in deportations has strained immigration enforcement infrastructure around the country. A similar dilemma is occurring in tandem in Los Angeles, where Democratic lawmakers accused immigration authorities of clearing out detainees and sanitizing the building before letting them in.
