The article discusses the deployment of US Public Health Service (PHS) nurses and doctors to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to care for immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The PHS officers are responsible for providing medical screening, treatment, and monitoring of detainees, as well as conducting welfare checks to identify potential health risks.
The article highlights the challenges faced by the PHS officers, including the lack of natural light in some detention facilities, overcrowding, and delayed medical care. Some detainees have been reported to be experiencing psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, due to their prolonged detention.
The article also notes that the deployment of PHS officers to Guantánamo Bay is costly, with an estimated $16,540 per day per detainee. This is significantly higher than the average cost of detaining immigrants in ICE facilities in the US, which is around $157 per day.
Some PHS officers have expressed concerns about the impact of these deployments on the nation's public health capacity, particularly during times of crisis such as hurricanes and pandemics. One nurse who resigned from the program stated that the focus on immigration detention was diverting resources away from more pressing public health issues.
The article concludes by highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of government resources, including those allocated for immigration detention.
The article highlights the challenges faced by the PHS officers, including the lack of natural light in some detention facilities, overcrowding, and delayed medical care. Some detainees have been reported to be experiencing psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, due to their prolonged detention.
The article also notes that the deployment of PHS officers to Guantánamo Bay is costly, with an estimated $16,540 per day per detainee. This is significantly higher than the average cost of detaining immigrants in ICE facilities in the US, which is around $157 per day.
Some PHS officers have expressed concerns about the impact of these deployments on the nation's public health capacity, particularly during times of crisis such as hurricanes and pandemics. One nurse who resigned from the program stated that the focus on immigration detention was diverting resources away from more pressing public health issues.
The article concludes by highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of government resources, including those allocated for immigration detention.
I'm so worried about these PHS nurses and docs at Guantánamo Bay! They're doing their best to help people, but it's just not right that they have to deal with all this trauma & anxiety on a daily basis 
. I mean, can't we find other ways to care for immigrants besides locking them up? It's like, what's the point of having a public health service if we're not gonna use it to help people in need, you know? 
And $16,540 a day per detainee is just crazy 
. Like, where's all that money coming from?! We should be prioritizing public health over profits, imo 
. We need more transparency & accountability, for sure 
. Maybe we can even look into alternative models of care that don't involve detention centers... 
this is wild the fact that medical professionals are being sent to Gitmo to take care of people who are being detained I mean I get it's a thing but $16k a day is crazy 
. If the costs are that high, maybe we should rethink our immigration policies and find ways to prevent people from getting detained in the first place? 
But it's all kinda hard cuz the facilities are super cramped & dark 
, and some ppl are even experiencing anxiety & depression 
. Like, how is that even possible?
, like $16,500 per day per person! That's crazy expensive 
. Like, what if there's a hurricane or something & they need to help ppl instead? 
I'm so worried about these PHS nurses & docs having to deal with all that stress 
. Can't imagine walking into a place like Guantánamo Bay knowing you're gonna have to check on people who are already super anxious & depressed 
Can't imagine the pressure on those poor healthcare workers 
. And let's be real, these PHS folks deserve way better pay & benefits 
.
& what about the resources being diverted from public health crises like hurricanes or pandemics? that's just not right
we need 2 know where our tax dollars r going & make sure it's not just being wasted on immigration detention centers
. And what really gets my blood boiling is that we're paying $16,540 a day per detainee! That's like, almost as much as a month's worth of rent for some families 
And the fact that we're payin' 'em $16,540 per day is just outrageous 
The US government's approach to handling immigrants at Guantánamo Bay is a perfect example of how complex global issues can be tackled, but with huge human and financial costs 
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And $16,540 a day per detainee is CRAZY! That's more than some teachers get paid 
. I mean, what's going through the minds of these politicians who are okay with this? 
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. Like, have you seen the pics of the facilities? They look more like prisons than hospitals 
. We need some serious reform, stat! 
I just read about this PHS deployment to Guantánamo Bay and I'm like... what's the point? We got more pressing issues on our hands like COVID-19 and natural disasters. I mean, these doctors and nurses are making bank over there, $16k a day or whatever... 
I mean i get it people gotta be detained but 16000 per day per person is crazy 
anyway im not saying we shouldnt be helping out immigrants but can we find a way to do it without breaking the bank 
The lack of transparency around how these resources are being used is literally staggering. It's like we expect people to trust us with our lives and we just can't be bothered to be transparent about it 