Letter to Thomas Homan, Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Oregon Congressional Delegation Presses ICE on Rights of Immigrant Detainees at Federal Prison in Oregon

Letter

Dear Director Homan,

It is our understanding that at least 123 immigrant civil detainees are being held at the federal detention center portion of the Sheridan Federal Corrections Institution in Sheridan, Oregon under an inter-agency agreement between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). We are deeply concerned by reports that BOP and ICE are hindering detainees' access to legal counsel, consular staff, and family communication in this facility. We request that you immediately allow detainees to access legal service providers through free telephone calls.

This policy should already be in place at all ICE-contracted facilities, based on your published guidance for detainee communication rights. According to the ICE Performance Based Detention Standards, the rules for legal access generally provide that "each facility shall permit detainees to make direct or free calls to…legal representatives, to obtain legal representation, or for consultation when subject to expedited removal."

Our offices are aware of multiple attorneys and immigrant legal defense groups who have committed to assist these individuals and are working to establish a hotline to facilitate attorney-client communication. Again, we request you provide immediate guidance to Sheridan Federal Corrections Institution and BOP explicitly granting all detainees prompt access to legal service providers though free telephone calls.

Thank you for giving this request your immediate attention.