Federal Judge Slams San Francisco ICE Facility for 'Inhumane' Conditions, Orders Immediate Improvements
A federal judge has issued an order requiring the US Department of Justice to improve deplorable conditions at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding cell facility in downtown San Francisco. The Ninth Circuit court ruling is a significant victory for immigrant communities who have long complained about the facility's unsanitary and inhumane treatment of detainees.
According to Jordan Wells, Program Director of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of SF, ICE had been allowing detainees to be held overnight and for multiple nights at the facility, despite knowing it was not feasible. "It's a huge win for immigrant communities in San Francisco that have been terrorized by this administration," Wells said.
The lawsuit filed earlier this month by Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco and other groups highlighted several issues with the facility, including mats too small for detainees, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and unhygienic toilets. Detainees were reportedly forced to sleep just one foot apart in cells that had not been properly cleaned.
Professor Bill Hing, who has visited the facility since 1970, described it as an office building, not a detention center. "We found out that they have no beds," he said. San Francisco supervisors have also expressed concern over the conditions, with Supervisor Dorsey stating that the federal government should be doing better to treat detainees humanely.
The Ninth Circuit court's order requires the facility to provide bedding for people held overnight, maintain reasonable temperatures in the cells, conduct basic medical screenings, and address other issues related to sanitation and hygiene. The ruling is a rare example of a federal judge taking action against the Trump administration's policies on immigration detention centers.
A federal judge has issued an order requiring the US Department of Justice to improve deplorable conditions at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding cell facility in downtown San Francisco. The Ninth Circuit court ruling is a significant victory for immigrant communities who have long complained about the facility's unsanitary and inhumane treatment of detainees.
According to Jordan Wells, Program Director of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of SF, ICE had been allowing detainees to be held overnight and for multiple nights at the facility, despite knowing it was not feasible. "It's a huge win for immigrant communities in San Francisco that have been terrorized by this administration," Wells said.
The lawsuit filed earlier this month by Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco and other groups highlighted several issues with the facility, including mats too small for detainees, unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and unhygienic toilets. Detainees were reportedly forced to sleep just one foot apart in cells that had not been properly cleaned.
Professor Bill Hing, who has visited the facility since 1970, described it as an office building, not a detention center. "We found out that they have no beds," he said. San Francisco supervisors have also expressed concern over the conditions, with Supervisor Dorsey stating that the federal government should be doing better to treat detainees humanely.
The Ninth Circuit court's order requires the facility to provide bedding for people held overnight, maintain reasonable temperatures in the cells, conduct basic medical screenings, and address other issues related to sanitation and hygiene. The ruling is a rare example of a federal judge taking action against the Trump administration's policies on immigration detention centers.
it's just not right that they're being treated like animals in a prison cell 
. I can only imagine how scary and humiliating it must be to be stuck in such conditions day after day. The fact that the facility didn't even have beds for detainees is just heartbreaking 
. It's amazing that the judge stepped up and said no more, we need better treatment of people who are already vulnerable enough 
. I hope these changes bring some comfort and dignity to those who've been suffering in silence 
.
I'm not surprised by this news, tbh. The conditions at that facility are straight outta a horror movie 
. It's heartbreaking to think about people being held in unsanitary and overcrowded cells, with minimal human respect for their basic needs 
. As a society, we need to do better, you know? 
. It takes courage to stand up for what's right, especially when it comes to issues that affect your own lives 
. We need more judges like this who are willing to hold those in power accountable 
.
its all about prioritizing profits over ppl's lives & dignity 4eva 
i mean whats more inhumane than being held 2 small mats 4 nite & havin 2 sleep 1 ft apart from another human? 
& dont even get me started on the sanitation lol
anywaa, its kinda awesome 2 c a judge takin action against those policies 
they gotta provide beds, clean cells, and basic medical screening ASAP. i'm so glad some ppl are finally speaking out against this. immigrant communities have been suffering for way too long. it's not right that the gov't is prioritizing profits over people. we need better! 
that's not even basic human decency 
it's like they're trying to torture ppl 
are we just gonna sit back & let them keep treating ppl like animals 
?
for speaking out against this injustice 
and also to all the activists & advocates who've been fighting for change 
. hopefully they'll make those changes ASAP so people can actually be treated with dignity & respect 
. We need better. We need humane treatment for everyone, regardless of their immigration status. It's not too much to ask for basic dignity and respect 
.
. Like, how can they expect people to be treated humanely in those conditions? It’s not even a proper building, it’s an office building with tiny cells and no beds