Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), alongside Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) led Democratic members of the NYC delegation in sending a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE Acting Chief Tae Johnson. In the letter, the members request more information to better understand the circumstances around the transfer of more than 60 immigrant detainess to Mississippi and to express general concern over Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) transfer policy.

Representative Nadler was joined on the letter by New York Reps. Velázquez, Maloney (Sean Patrick), Jeffries, Maloney (Carolyn), Meng, Meeks, Jones, Torres, Suozzi, Espaillat, Bowman, Clarke, and Ocasio-Cortez. 

Full text of the letter can be found below and here:

August 03, 2022

Dear Secretary Mayorkas and Acting Director Johnson,

We write to express our deep concern over the recent transfer of immigrant detainees from Orange County Jail (OCJ) in Goshen, New York. We request a full briefing to better understand the circumstances around the transfer and to express general concern over Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) transfer policy.

Last week, ICE transferred at least 65 detainees from OCJ, sending 61 of those individuals over 1,300 miles away to Adams County in Mississippi. Detainees were given almost no notice that they would be transferred out of the facility, let alone that they were being sent halfway across the country. While ICE stated that it followed its own detainee transfer policy, which has been in place since 2012, we find the policy significantly lacking.1 Under ICE’s policy, notice to attorneys is not required until 24 hours after the transfer occurs and there is no requirement to notify family at all.2 This can lead to unnecessary concern and confusion for the detainee’s counsel and family members.

As you know, OCJ is the closest ICE detention facility to New York City. Many individuals who are detained at this facility have family, support systems, and legal representation in the New York City area. It is extremely traumatizing for these individuals to lose those vital support systems as they prepare to make their case in immigration court proceedings.

Further, it is unclear if all protocols were followed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) recently noted that ICE is required to test all detainees before they are transferred or released. However, the DHS IG found ICE “transported migrants without ensuring all migrants were COVID-19–negative before transport and did not retain complete transport records.”3 In May, New York City Council members and immigration advocates voiced concerns about a lack of COVID-19 protocols, inadequate medical care, and insufficient language services at OCJ after a tour of the facility.4 Further, as of July 29, 2022, OCJ is listed as a code “Red” facility as it relates to the spread of COVID-19.5 It is all the more concerning that these detainees were sent over 1,000 miles away to a different facility, given the concerns ICE has as it relates to OCJ and COVID-19.

As a result, we request ICE provide a briefing in the next week on the issue of transfers from OCJ, ICE’s transfer policy, and concerns over the continued spread of COVID-19.

We appreciate your prompt response.