The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) on Friday formally requested a meeting with the CEOs of the two largest private detention center operators, as COVID-19 cases have spread among detainee and employee populations alike.
In a letter to CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger and GEO Group CEO George Zoley, CHC Chairman Joaquín Castro (D-Texas) and Rep. Juan VargasJuan C. VargasHispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president Activists, analysts demand Congress consider immigrants in coronavirus package Biden rolls out over a dozen congressional endorsements after latest primary wins MORE (D-Calif.) wrote that in the three months since President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump on Kanye West’s presidential run: ‘He is always going to be for us’ Marie Yovanovitch on Vindman retirement: He ‘deserved better than this. Our country deserved better than this’ Trump says Biden has been ‘brainwashed’: ‘He’s been taken over by the radical left’ MORE declared a health emergency, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in detention centers has increased “exponentially.”
“Since both CoreCivic and GEO Group are ICE’s top operators of detention centers, we would like to request a virtual meeting with you and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members at your earliest availability,” wrote Castro and Vargas.
The CHC has previously unsuccessfully attempted to meet with Hininger and Zoley, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Steve Owen, a spokesman for CoreCivic, said the company is reviewing the letter.
“COVID-19 has created extraordinary challenges for every detention system in America – public and private. We have worked together closely with our government partners and state health officials to respond to this unprecedented situation appropriately, thoroughly and with care for the well-being of those entrusted to us and our communities,” wrote Owen in an email to The Hill.
“Our facilities are fully transparent to our government partners and elected officials, and we have accommodated several onsite visits from members of Congress since the pandemic began,” Owen continued.
Representatives for GEO Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Castro and Vargas were joined by 22 members of the CHC in signing the letter.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the law enforcement agency that runs immigrant detention centers, there are 22,579 foreign nationals in custody. Of those people, 11,828 have been tested for COVID-19, and 883 have tested positive and remain in custody.
Among ICE employees, 45 who work in detention centers have tested positive for COVID-19, as have 153 agency employees assigned elsewhere.
Two detainees have died from the disease while in custody so far.
“As many public health experts have already pointed out, congregate settings like detention conditions do not allow individuals to observe safe social distancing guidelines, which, especially during a global health pandemic, increase the risk of accelerating transmission of the virus among detainees and facility staff,” wrote Castro and Vargas.
“Further, we are alarmed by reports that individuals held in detention with symptoms of COVID-19 have reported being denied necessary medical care; some have complained of being placed in solitary confinement; other have been ignored outright,” the added.
While the death rate of detainees is relatively low, the positive testing rate is much higher than for the general population, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress.
CoreCivic built and operates the South Texas Family Detention Center under contract with ICE, and GEO Group operates at least nine ICE processing centers throughout the country.
Castro and Vargas were joined in the letter by Democratic Reps. Ruben GallegoRuben GallegoHouse panel votes to limit Trump’s Germany withdrawal The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – As virus concerns grow, can it get worse for Trump? Latino man’s death in Tucson fuels debate over police brutality on Hispanics MORE (Ariz.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (Calif.), Adriano Espaillat
Adriano de Jesus Espaillat CabralHispanic Democrats build capital with big primary wins Hispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president Hispanic lawmakers back CBC on police reform — an issue for both communities MORE (N.Y.), Veronica Escobar
Veronica EscobarDemocrats fear US already lost COVID-19 battle House panel votes against curtailing Insurrection Act powers after heated debate Hispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president MORE (Texas), Albio Sires
Albio B. SiresNew Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell wins Democratic primary New Jersey incumbents steamroll progressive challengers in primaries New Jersey Rep. Albio Sires wins Democratic primary MORE (N.J.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezHispanic Democrats build capital with big primary wins OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Sanders-Biden climate task force calls for carbon-free power by 2035 | Park Police did not record radio transmissions during June 1 sweep of White House protesters | Court upholds protections for Yellowstone grizzly bears Biden-Sanders ‘unity task force’ rolls out platform recommendations MORE (N.Y.), Darren Soto
Darren Michael SotoFlorida lawmakers press Interior on offshore drilling Activists, analysts demand Congress consider immigrants in coronavirus package Hispanic Democrats demand funding for multilingual coronavirus messaging MORE (Fla.), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Debbie Mucarsel-PowellLawmaker-linked businesses received PPP loans Democrats start cracking down on masks for lawmakers The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former Rep. Delaney says Trump is spewing venom when he should be leading; Protests roil the nation as fears of new virus outbreaks grow MORE (Fla.), Filemon Vela
Filemon Bartolome VelaHispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: CDC predicts US death toll could reach 145,000 by July 11; Premier President Michael Alkire says more resiliency needed in health supply chain House members race to prepare for first-ever remote votes MORE (Texas), Grace Napolitano
Graciela (Grace) Flores NapolitanoHispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president Hispanic Democrats demand funding for multilingual coronavirus messaging Bicameral group of Democrats introduces bill to protect immigrant laborers MORE (Calif.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Luis Correa (Calif.), Jesús García (Ill.), Jim Costa
James (Jim) Manuel CostaBlack Caucus rallies behind Meeks for Foreign Affairs gavel Let’s support and ensure the safety of workers risking so much for us Five factors to watch in the meat supply chain crisis MORE (Calif.), Jimmy Gomez
Jimmy GomezThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: CDC predicts US death toll could reach 145,000 by July 11; Premier President Michael Alkire says more resiliency needed in health supply chain Hillicon Valley: Senate Republicans, DOJ target Section 230 | Facial recognition under the spotlight | Zoom launches E2E encrypted beta House Democrat presses Amazon on facial recognition business MORE (Calif.), Linda Sánchez (Calif.), Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-AllardDemocrats offer security bill that prohibits border wall funding Keeping Dreamers, TPS holders in our workforce and communities is essential to the nation’s economic recovery The Hill’s Campaign Report: Democrat concedes in California House race MORE (Calif.), Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.), Pete Aguilar
Peter (Pete) Ray AguilarDozens of Democrats plan to vote remotely in a first for the House Biden rolls out over a dozen congressional endorsements after latest primary wins Biden rise calms Democratic jitters MORE (Calif.), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Sylvia Garcia
Sylvia GarciaHispanic Caucus asks Trump to rescind invitation to Mexican president 1 suspect dead, 1 arrested in disappearance of US soldier Trump administration ending support for 7 Texas testing sites as coronavirus cases spike MORE (Texas) and Xóchitl Torres Small (N.M).
