This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it would take a series of actions to enhance and ensure safety at its family residential centers.
“While we routinely review and evaluate our facilities to ensure that we are providing the level of care required by our Family Residential Standards, we understand the unique and sensitive nature of detaining families and we are committed to maintaining the optimal level of care,” said ICE Director Sarah R. Saldaña. “The measures ICE is announcing reaffirm that understanding and our commitment to ensuring all individuals in our custody are held and treated in a safe, secure, and humane manner.”
ICE will take the following steps:
It will create a new advisory committee
A senior ICE official has been given the responsibility to coordinate and review family residential facility policies.
ICE will conduct a series of engagements with stakeholders to listen to and discuss concerns regarding family residential centers.
ICE will investigate ways to further enhance conditions at family residential centers to support the well being of detained families.
ICE will implement a review process for any families detained beyond 90 days, and every 60 days thereafter.
