Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chair, my amendment prioritizes funding to study the treatment of detainees and the conditions of private immigration detention centers.

ICE is increasing apprehensions and putting immigrant communities at higher risk of apprehension, detention, and deportation. At the same time, the Trump administration has lowered detention standards when signing contracts with private facilities. This has led to the highest number of deaths in ICE custody since 2011.

We have seen a complete disregard for civil and constitutional rights of detainees, many of whom are torn from their families without basic due process protections. These facilities are not holding prisoners.

They are holding asylum seekers who risked everything to start a better life. They are holding hardworking community members. They are holding family members: mothers, fathers, and children.

Information regarding detention facilities is already inconsistent, outdated, and, frankly, overall lacking in transparency. Medical neglect, poor treatment by guards, sexual abuse, and even in-custody deaths plague numerous facilities across the country. Even worse, repeat offending private prison companies continue to receive lucrative contracts for additional facilities.

We have to have an objective and transparent review of these private immigration detention centers. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' for my amendment to ensure that detainees are treated humanely and provided basic due process protections.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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