ICE to Review Parole Applications After Men Faint During Strike
MILAN, N.M. – After several men fainted from their hunger strike at Cibola County Correctional Center, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement – which houses a number of their detainees at the Cibola facility – has agreed to review parole applications of detainees. This comes after ICE and representatives for CCCC vehemently denied a hunger strike at the facility.
The hunger strike is now on pause as ICE reviews detainee parole application. According to representatives from Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, which represents several of the men who were striking, said that at least seven of the strikers have been deported.
The hunger strike began after at least one immigrant detainee attempted suicide in response to inhumane treatment, according to Las Americas. After the attempted suicide, several of the detainees decided to make a statement, calling for the release of all detainees in ICE’s custody; the detainees then began to strike by not eating food. The hunger strike led to several detainees fainting, a claim denied by CoreCivic and ICE, but pushed by Las Americas and the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. Most detainees at CCCC are awaiting a hearing date to be granted asylum, which will allow them to live in the United States because it is no longer safe for them to live in their home country.
Cibola County Correctional Center is a facility that houses inmates from ICE, the US Marshal Service, and local detainees who are arrested by any of the local law enforcement agencies. CCCC is run by a private company called Core-Civic in the Village of Milan, New Mexico. The village is the second largest incorporated area of Cibola County, other than housing inmates arrested by Milan Police Department, they have no connection to the local government.
CoreCivic and ICE continue to deny claims of a food strike and inhumane conditions. In a statement, ICE said, “All facilities that house ICE detainees are required to follow ICE’s stringent detention standards, which help ensure that all detainees are treated humanely, protected from harm, provided appropriate medical and mental health care, and receive the rights and protections to which they are entitled.”
Director of Public Affairs for CoreCivic said in a statement, “Much of the recent information being shared regarding our Cibola County Correctional Center is neither accurate nor reflective of our policies, procedures or values. CoreCivic cares deeply about every person in our care. All of our immigration facilities are monitored very closely by our government partners at ICE, and they’re required to undergo regular review and audit processes to ensure an appropriate standard of living for all detainees. Our staff are trained and held to the highest ethical standards. Our commitment to keeping those entrusted to our care safe and secure is our top priority. We vehemently deny any allegations of detainee mistreatment. There is a robust grievance process in place should a detainee ever feel they have been treated unfairly.”