A U.S. District Court in Manhattan has ordered the federal government to improve living conditions for detainees at a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, following a lawsuit that revealed alarming health and safety violations. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan’s decision came after Peruvian immigrant Sergio Alberto Barco Mercado filed a complaint outlining the cramped and unsanitary environment at 26 Federal Plaza, raising concerns about the treatment of individuals in U.S. custody.
In his ruling, Judge Kaplan mandated that by August 26, the government must provide detainees with more spacious and sanitary accommodations. Each holding area is required to be furnished with bedding mats and adequate hygiene products, with facilities cleaned at least three times a day. The order also mandates that detainees be informed of their rights within one hour of their detention and receive an additional meal daily, as well as access to bottled water and private phone calls with attorneys within 24 hours.
The lawsuit, backed by several advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Make the Road New York, painted a grim picture of life within the facility. Testimonies described inhumane conditions, with reports of 70 to 90 individuals crammed into just 215 square feet, leading to a lack of personal space and basic amenities. Detainees reported sleeping on concrete floors next to open toilets and facing shortages of essential items such as soap, clean clothes, and medical care.
Former detainees have recounted receiving two insufficient meals each day while being exposed to extreme temperatures and prolonged periods of detention in a facility not equipped for extended stays. One individual recalled being treated as less than human, highlighting the neglect that has become a central concern for proponents of immigration reform. The government acknowledged certain deficiencies, including limited access to medications and lack of in-person visits with legal counsel.
The facility has emerged as a contentious issue within the broader debate on immigration enforcement, drawing attention from Congress and sparking protests from civil rights advocates outside the building. Critics declare that the current conditions violate fundamental human rights and due process, prioritizing rapid deportation over the ethical treatment of individuals.
Judge Kaplan’s temporary order is expected to precede a more comprehensive legal review that could result in a long-term injunction and possible class-action status for the case. This development has the potential to reshape ICE’s operational policies at a time of rising scrutiny over its practices under the Trump administration.
The ramifications of this ruling may extend beyond the immediate conditions at the facility, impacting future immigration detention protocols nationwide. The legal proceedings serve as a reminder of the urgent need for reform in how the U.S. treats individuals who are in the country without authorization.
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