Congressional Hispanic Caucus Intensifies Push on Immigration Detention Amid Arrests

Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari recently visited the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona, voicing concerns about reported mistreatment and inadequate medical care for women held there. During her visit on May 29, detainees described alarming conditions, including racist comments from staff and extreme discomfort due to fluctuating air conditioning.

“We heard directly from detainees who described horrible conditions,” Ansari explained during a video call. She highlighted issues such as boiling ice cubes for water, moldy cells, and serious medical concerns being overlooked. One incident involved a guard allegedly forcing women to walk outside in high heat for an extended period without water, while making derogatory remarks about the American dream. This led to one older woman fainting after which the staff reportedly took little action.

Ansari noted that the staff’s demeanor noticeably changed during her visit, shifting from a typically hostile environment to more compliance, likely due to her presence. “I felt sick as I was leaving, based on everything that I heard,” she remarked.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have denied the allegations, as reported by the Arizona Republic.

Meanwhile, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus announced plans to increase oversight at immigration detention centers nationwide. Following their visits over the recent Congressional recess, they raised concerns about the treatment of individuals arrested during court appearances and the troubling trend of punitive measures against immigrants. New York Democratic Representative Nydia Velázquez stated, “what we witnessed was the system being used to punish people simply for being an immigrant.”

The caucus emphasized that continued oversight is critical, especially as Congressional Republicans seek to pass legislation that may increase funding for immigration enforcement, including detention facilities. This follows an incident where several Democratic lawmakers faced issues with ICE officials during a visit to a New Jersey detention center, leading to arrests and charges against a local mayor.

CHC Chair Representative Adriano Espaillat asserted that they would not be intimidated and would fulfill their duty to oversee these facilities. Under federal law, members of Congress can conduct unannounced oversight visits to Department of Homeland Security facilities that detain immigrants.

Representative Pramila Jayapal criticized the Trump administration’s increased contracts with private prison companies, emphasizing the substandard conditions in these detention centers. She recounted attending an oversight visit at a facility in Washington, where she encountered individuals trapped in immigration enforcement actions while merely trying to attend work or court dates.

Jayapal highlighted the case of a woman who had lived in the U.S. for over 20 years, caught in a raid just days before her marriage to a U.S. citizen. Additionally, she recounted another case involving a permanent legal resident who had been in the U.S. for three decades, questioning why they were targeted under current immigration policies.

Democratic Representative Lou Correa shared similar observations, noting that some detainees were arrested while complying with immigration laws by attending their court hearings. “These individuals are following the law, showing up… to court hearings, and they are having their removal cases dismissed,” he stated, drawing attention to the expedited removal process that quickly follows their court appearances.