Senators demand reform on solitary confinement of immigrants
A group of senators have strongly condemned the increasing use of solitary confinement for detained immigrants in the U.S., calling it a breach of international standards.
They raised their concerns in a March 29 letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Patrick Lechleitner.
The senators, including Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Maria Cantwell, cited a 61% surge in solitary placements between 2022 and 2023.
Detainees are reportedly kept in isolation for up to 22 hours daily, often for minor offenses or even mental health concerns.
The senators say this practice violates Rule 43 of the U.N.’s guidelines on prisoner treatment, which prohibits prolonged solitary confinement.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is under fire for such treatment.
Critics highlight the adverse effects on detainees’ mental health, including heightened suicide risks.
The senators have called on the Department of Homeland Security to overhaul this system urgently.
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