Individuals’ experiences in U.S. immigration detention during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic: major challenges and public health implications

Health & Justice

Research Article

Caroline H. Lee¹  Parsa Erfani²  Nishant Uppal²  Katherine R. Peeler³  Raquel Sofia Sandoval⁴  Kathryn Hampton⁵  Ranit Mishori⁶ 

[1] Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis St, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;Physicians for Human Rights, 256 W 38th Street, 9th Floor, 10018, New York City, NY, USA;Division of Medical Critical Care, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 634, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, 02115, Boston, MA, USA;The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1800 Orleans St, 21287, Baltimore, MD, USA;Physicians for Human Rights, 256 W 38th Street, 9th Floor, 10018, New York City, NY, USA;Physicians for Human Rights, 256 W 38th Street, 9th Floor, 10018, New York City, NY, USA;Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Road NW, 20007, Washington, DC, USA;

关键词: Immigration detention;    COVID-19;    Immigrant health;    Migrant health;    Qualitative analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40352-023-00211-2

 received in 2022-06-28, accepted in 2023-01-31,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIndividuals held in carceral settings were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, limited research exists of the direct experiences of individuals detained by the United States (U.S.) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This study illustrates the major challenges described by individuals held in ICE’s immigration detention centers during the initial spread of COVID-19.MethodsWe interviewed 50 individuals who were released from ICE detention between March 15, 2020 until August 31, 2020. Participants were recruited through immigration attorneys. Responses to a semi-structured interview were documented. Quotes from these interviews were thematically analyzed.ResultsStudy participants were detained in 22 different ICE detention centers, which were located across 12 states, in both county (41%) and privately-contracted facilities (59%). The major themes that emerged from interviews included inadequate protections against COVID-19, denial of physical and mental healthcare, and experiences of retaliation in response to self-advocacy. These issues perpetuated emotions of fear, distrust, and helplessness in individuals in immigration detention centers.ConclusionsThis study represents the largest analysis of experiences of ICE-detained immigrants during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the rights to health and wellbeing for this population, further actions should include improving public health conditions, protecting against human rights violations, addressing barriers to healthcare access, ensuring transparency about conditions in detention centers, and moving toward decarceration.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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