ACLU expresses concern for immigration detainees at Pinal County jail

FLORENCE, AZ - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Arizona have expressed concern of “unconstitutional conditions” at the Pinal County Jail regarding immigration detainees.

According to a news release, ACLU has asked the Department of Homeland Security to remove hundreds of detainees who are being subjected to unsanitary conditions and abuse despite the government’s pledge to maintain a “truly civil” immigration detention system.

ACLU sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security today regarding the situation, asking them to solve the issues based on investigations that were done in March.

The investigations revealed issues of excessive force and abuse, inadequate medical care, poor meals, unnecessary lockdowns, confiscations and refusals of other services and visitations.

The letter notes that “immigration detainees are entitled to even greater constitutional protections than convicted prisoners,” and that they deserve “more considerate treatment.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has acknowledged the need for reform regarding the treatment of immigration detainees.

Regardless, conditions in the Pinal County Jail, as stated in the press release, “make a mockery of the administration’s stated commitment to humane detention reform, but also present an invitation to suit.”

ACLU hopes that Pinal County will either remove the detainees from the jail or remedy the issues found.