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Health Disparities

Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facilities

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JAMA Network Open

January 19, 2021

Research Letter

Article Information and Disclosures

Felicia O. Casanova, MA¹;

Alice Hamblett, BA²;

Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, PhD³;

et al

Kathryn M. Nowotny, PhD⁴

Author Affiliations

¹Institute for Advanced Study of the Americas, Department of Sociology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
²Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
³Center for Health Equity Research, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
⁴Department of Sociology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida

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The US is facing a humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of people are held in detention centers under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Practices undertaken by ICE, such as detainment, deportation, and searches, adversely affect the physical and mental health of those who are undocumented.¹ Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities have been characterized as unsanitary, unsafe, and inhumane by a recent whistleblower.² Home to moldy, uncleaned bathrooms and limited personal hygiene supplies and medical services, facilities pose health risks to people even beyond the context of a global pandemic.³ Human rights advocates have called for the release of people detained and the suspension of deportation flights.⁴ Thus far, ongoing deportation flights have led to documented spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in more than 11 countries.⁵ Herein, we describe the COVID-19 burden among people detained by ICE compared with the US population.

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Article Information

Accepted for Publication: December 1, 2020.

Published: January 19, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.34409

Corresponding Author: Kathryn M. Nowotny, PhD, Department of Sociology, University of Miami, 5202 University Dr, Merrick Bldg Rm 120, Coral Gables, FL 33146 (kathryn.nowotny@miami.edu).

Author Contributions: Mss Casanova and Hamblett contributed equally as authors. Drs Brinkley-Rubinstein and Nowotny had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: All authors.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: All authors.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Casanova, Brinkley-Rubinstein, Nowotny.

Statistical analysis: Nowotny.

Obtained funding: Brinkley-Rubinstein.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Casanova, Brinkley-Rubinstein.

Supervision: Brinkley-Rubinstein.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: This study was supported by a grant from the Langeloth Foundation (the COVID Prison Project) and grant R25DA037190 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse–funded Criminal Justice Research Training Program (Drs Nowotny and Brinkley-Rubinstein).

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Disclaimer: The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Langeloth Foundation or National Institutes of Health.

Additional Contributions: Chris Corsi, BA, Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, served as project coordinator and was compensated for his contributions to this work. The COVID Prison Project team provided ongoing support with data collection and management.

References

Hacker K , Chu J , Arsenault L , Marlin RP . Provider’s perspectives on the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity on immigrant health. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2012;23(2):651-665. doi:10.1353/hpu.2012.0052 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Somvichian-Clausen A . Whistleblower accuses Georgia ICE facility of mass hysterectomies, gross medical neglect. September 17, 2020. Accessed September 17, 2020. https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/516865-whistleblower-accuses-georgia-ice-facility-of-mass

US Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General. Concerns about ICE detainee treatment and care at four detention facilities. OIG-19-47. June 3, 2019. Accessed September 1, 2020. https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2019-06/OIG-19-47-Jun19.pdf

Amon JJ . COVID-19 and detention: respecting human rights. Health Human Rights J. March 23, 2020. Accessed September 10, 2020. https://www.hhrjournal.org/2020/03/covid-19-and-detention-respecting-human-rights/

International Rescue Committee. COVID-19 escalating in ICE detention centers as states hit highest daily records—and ICE deportation flights into Northern Triangle continue. August 3, 2020. Accessed September 3, 2020. https://www.rescue.org/press-release/covid-19-escalating-ice-detention-centers-states-hit-highest-daily-records-and-ice

Cho E . ICE’s lack of transparency about COVID-19 in detention will cost lives. American Civil Liberties Union. May 22, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2020. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/ices-lack-of-transparency-about-covid-19-in-detention-will-cost-lives/

Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facilities

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