A group of legal service and immigration rights organizations have just called on Governors Andrew Cuomo and Phil Murphy to release all detainees held by ICE, demand the immediate halt of all ICE enforcement operations, among other immediate demands.
The Hudson County Correctional Facility, located in Kearny, NJ and which houses hundreds of New York residents, confirmed two cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, March 22nd. It is now on a complete lock-down for two weeks.
ICE detainees, who range from long time lawful permanent residents to individuals seeking asylum, are required to remain in their cells 24 hours a day, allowed out only to bathe and make personal calls. This is not only inhumane, but an institutional setting increases their risk of contracting the coronavirus.
The full letter can be ready below and was produced by the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative (RRLC), a New York State and New York City funded collaborative comprised of Make the Road New York, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and UnLocal, Inc. that provides legal representation to individuals at risk of imminent deportation, and Make the Road New Jersey.
