Legislating Health Standards for Detention Facilities in the US

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Representative Zoe Lofgren are introducing a new bill, the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act (SR 3005 and HR 5950), which would impose more rigorous standards on the network of more than 300 publicly and privately run prisons that make up the federal system — current rules are voluntary, not legally enforceable and not uniformly followed. And it would require that all deaths be reported to the Justice Department and Congress.

Currently, no government body is charged with accounting for deaths in ICE detention, a patchwork of county jails, privately run prisons and federal facilities. Getting details about those who die in custody is a difficult undertaking left to family members, advocacy groups and the media. Since 2003, at least 83 people have died in immigration custody.

More than 300,000 men, women and children are detained by ICE each year. They include asylum seekers, long-time green card holders with minor immigration violations and families with small children.

Washington Post story, "Careless Detention: In Custody, In Pain"

Sunday's 60 Minutes segment, "Detention in America"

New York Times article "Better Health Care Sought for Detained Immigrants"