Trump administration urged to free migrants as virus surges

[Judi Lynn]

Ben Fox, Philip Marcelo and Nomaan Merchant, Associated Press
Updated 6:30 pm CDT, Thursday, March 26, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pressure was mounting on the Trump administration Wednesday to release people from immigration detention facilities where at least one detainee has tested positive for COVID-19 and advocates fear tight quarters and overall conditions could cause rapid spread of the virus.

The U.S. holds around 37,000 people in immigration detention. Detainees and advocates say many are vulnerable because of age and pre-existing medical conditions, and because they are often held in open rooms, beds 3-feet apart, and without adequate supplies of masks or other protections.

“It's impossible to stay calm,” said Marco Battistotti, an Italian who is among 170 people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County jail in Massachusetts. “People are panicking. People are in fear.”

The 54-year-old Battistotti was among about 100 detainees at the county jail near Cape Cod who signed a letter released by a local immigration lawyer detailing conditions inside. They asked to be released to await decisions on their immigration cases.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Trump-administration-urged-to-free-migrants-as-15156522.php

[MosheFeingold]

1. I'm not sure this is a good idea.

We are being told to shelter in place. The detention centers are, alas, their shelter in place.

And what would happen when released? Migrants are generally marginally employable and economic vulnerable. They’d need financial help from government agencies (that are closed or in short shifts) and probably have to rely on someone to bring them in to prevent homelessness.

Staying put is not a great option (and has problems like any confined space), but seems better than just putting people out on the street.