By Raul Castillo
04 Mar 2024, 21:31 PM EST
The Baker County Detention Center, in the northwest corner of Florida, has been the subject of concern due to reports of “persistent abuse” by prison staff towards detainees, the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed. (DHS) in a note sent to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The ACLU of Florida noted that “constant patterns of verbal abuse, racial discrimination, retaliation and harassment” were detected in the detention center, the EFE agency reported. These conclusions, derived from an investigation, have generated alarm in the community, especially regarding the health and well-being of those detained at Baker.
The DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) issued a report in October 2022, in which it identified “verbal and emotional abuse by facility staff,” as well as “racial discrimination, significant health access issues.” language and continued barriers to legal access.”
CRCL recommended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) take immediate action to address these concerns.
Complaints about treatment and conditions at the Baker detention center have been recurring in recent years.
Recurring complaints
In November 2023, a group of undocumented immigrants began a hunger strike to protest the conditions they faced, including threats of solitary confinement and food shortages, according to EFE.
The ACLU of Florida has been active in seeking answers about the situation in Baker. In 2023, it requested information from DHS about the results of its investigations at the detention center. The organization has expressed concern about the inhumane treatment of detainees and has urged ICE to investigate and correct these practices.
Amy Godshall, of the ACLU of Florida’s legal team, has highlighted the seriousness of the situation, mentioning that she has spoken with detainees who describe the conditions at Baker as desperate.
“For years, the ACLU of Florida has been investigating the egregious human rights violations that Baker staff are repeatedly committing against people in their care,” he said.
The ACLU describes the treatment at the center as “psychological warfare” intended to force detainees to self-deport, something that goes against the principles of civil detention that should not be punitive.
In response to these allegations, the ACLU has called on ICE to stop tolerating abuse and take immediate steps to ensure the humane and dignified treatment of detainees at Baker.
With information from EFE.
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