After the University of Southern California conducted an analysis of death reports for individuals who died in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, USC found out that ICE violated its own internal medical care standards in 78% of cases among young and healthy men.

Based on the study which was published in JAMA Network Open, the conclusions were based on the 55 reports on death cases in ICE between 2011 and 2018 that were examined.

Researchers at the University of Southern California found out that many of the deaths were preceded by delayed or inappropriate care and/or inadequate or absent response to markedly abnormal vital signs. In numerous cases, detention facility staff or other detained persons raised concerns regarding the person's health to a superior or staff member before the recorded deaths.

According to USC News, the first author of the study, Molly Grassini, who is a physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, stated that it was possible that these deaths might have been avoided if these concerns had been addressed properly. Grassini added that the ICE medical care team minimized or dismissed the signs and symptoms of critical illness among ICE patients.

The detention centers of ICE have both medical personnel on-site and the ability to transfer patients to nearby hospitals if needed.

Ignoring Warning Signs

Between 2011 and 2018, 71 individuals died while in ICE detention facilities. The study team analyzed ICE death investigation reports of 55 deaths available for review. The death investigation reports consisted of a narrative developed from medical record reviews and interviews with medical and security staff, as well as other detained individuals. Reviews of video footage and security logs were also included among information once available.

The researchers found out 47 deaths were due to medical causes and eight because of suicide. The average age at death of the detainees was at 42.7 years. The individuals were 85.5% men and had lived in the United States. They also have an average of 15.8 years prior to detention and spent a median of 39 days in custody before their death.

The study found out that abnormal vital signs, such as abnormal heart rate and blood pressure, were documented preceding 29 of the 47 deaths from medical causes. The said warning signs were allegedly often ignored which led to the deaths of the individuals.

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Biden to ICE: Limit Arrests of Pregnant, Nursing Women

The administration of the U.S. President Joe Biden has directed immigration officers to avoid arresting pregnant and nursing women. Biden also set new guidelines for treatment when women were taken into government custody.

Based on the July 1 memo signed by the U.S. ICE's acting Director Tae Johnson, obtained by The Hill, the agency was directed  to house women in an appropriate facility to manage their care.

Johnson wrote in a memo to ICE officers that generally ICE should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws of individuals known to be pregnant, in postpartum, or nursing. The detention could only be applicable if release would be prohibited by law or exemptions.

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Written by Jess Smith

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