
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a set of photos of positive images of its detention centres, including migrants reading and playing sports - a stark contrast to reports about human rights abuses in its facilities.
A number of pictures posted on the ICE Twitter page showed a variety of images showing people laughing and eating food in the detention centres.
ICE provided an “extensive media tour.”
Yesterday, ICE provided an extensive media tour of the agency’s dedicated housing unit for transgender women. (1/) https://t.co/oGOMglzdt9— ICE (@ICE) 1560431147
The organisation boasted of opening a “dedicated unit for transgender women in the Cibola County Correctional Center in New Mexico.”
Cibola’s medical & detention staff are trained in best practices for the care of transgender individuals. A dedicat… https://t.co/XUuF8lUbrn— ICE (@ICE) 1560431149
All transgender individuals detained in ICE detention facilities undergo an initial evaluation, including a physica… https://t.co/Nra9H5J6Bl— ICE (@ICE) 1560431149
ICE went on to talk about its medical facilities.
Further, all individuals in ICE custody have the unrestricted opportunity to freely request health care services –… https://t.co/YFbCbYf5CC— ICE (@ICE) 1560431150
ICE is committed to upholding an immigration detention system that prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of a… https://t.co/vjGcQ4jMCw— ICE (@ICE) 1560431151
And the so-called "care" provided to detained individuals.
Decisions related to the location where individuals will be detained are made on a case-by-case basis, considering… https://t.co/MyrQPryALU— ICE (@ICE) 1560431151
Needless to say, people pointed out ICE's bad reputation and allegations of mistreatment of children and LGBT+ people and migrants in general.
@ICEgov https://t.co/82nNiqsX1F— Holley Trent (@Holley Trent) 1560526047
@ICEgov You murdered a trans woman less than two weeks ago. Her name was Johana Medina. #SayHerName— A Jew named JE Reich screaming BLACK LIVES MATTER (@A Jew named JE Reich screaming BLACK LIVES MATTER) 1560553849
@ICEgov What is the best practice when it concerns long term violations of human rights?— Chris Fredda 💗💜💙 (@Chris Fredda 💗💜💙) 1560528538
@ICEgov no one believes you— hʌnnē 🕯🍯🕯 (@hʌnnē 🕯🍯🕯) 1560534758
@ICEgov https://t.co/tbAAEva7z8— William D. Backbetter (@William D. Backbetter) 1560616792
"Vile obfuscation."
@ICEgov vile obfuscation— Chris Bice (@Chris Bice) 1560567562
Criticism quickly descended on the Twitter thread as people pointed out that children and transgender people have died in ICE facilities. Earlier this month a trans woman seeking asylum died after pleading for medical help in US custody.
A transgender woman from El Salvador died after falling ill at a private Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centre in New Mexico and drew new scrutiny to a facility that has faced allegations of mistreatment of gay and transgender detainees. The Transgender Law Centre has filed a lawsuit alleging improper care by ICE contributed to Ms Hernandez’s death, an allegation ICE has denied.
An investigation found nooses in cells of the detention centres, people being served spoiled food and detainees in isolation.
Homeland security inspectors visited four Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) centres and described “egregious violations” of standards at two of them including inadequate medical care.