Crow Statement on Whistleblower Complaint on Health Care Abuse at ICE Detention Centers

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jason Crow issued the following statement on a whistleblower complaint filed on behalf of a nurse at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center documenting ‘jarring medical neglect' within the facility, including a refusal to test detainees for coronavirus and mass hysterectomies being performed on detained women:

"If true, the allegations detailed in the whistleblower complaint are crimes against humanity. Mass sterilizations are tools of authoritarian regimes and the DHS Inspector General must immediately launch an investigation. ICE detention centers and their contract facilities are hotbeds for disease spread and have been home to some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks. The reports of medical neglect during this critical time demand accountability and are part of a pattern of behavior by the Trump administration who has repeatedly denied decency and dignity to immigrants and asylum seekers.

"After multiple disease outbreaks in the facility in my district, we launched our effort to conduct regular oversight. We've seen how the agency's lack of transparency and accountability puts the health of the detainees at risk and how ICE's culture of secrecy leads to appalling conditions and treatment. It's clear that this administration has no interest in holding ICE accountable. Therefore, Congress must stand up and fight for the decency and dignity of all people in our care. For over a year, our office has conducted weekly oversight reports to ensure transparency into this broken system and we encourage other Congressional offices to follow this model to provide the oversight that this administration fails to do."

In 2019, Crow introduced and enacted into law the POD Act to promote transparency and accountability by allowing members of Congress to gain access to detention facilities within 48 hours of request. In July 2019, Crow's office launched weekly visits to the local facility in the district after a series of disturbing reports about the conditions at immigration detention centers across the country and ICE's refusal to claim responsibility for medical conditions at private, for-profit immigration detention centers. To read a copy of the office's ICE accountability report, visit: /about/ice-accountability-report