Arizona ICE jail violated prisoners’ rights and failed to prevent COVID-19 outbreak

Phoenix, April 3 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Arizona, a new investigation has revealed staff at the privately run immigration jail La Palma Correctional Center violated multiple pandemic protocols, verbally assaulted prisoners, and attacked prisoners with pepper spray during a peaceful protest. 

The report by the Homeland Security Department’s Office of the Inspector General says staff at La Palma failed to enforce mask and social distancing protocols, contributing to a massive spread of COVID-19 cases. 

The report also found staff often refused to provide medical attention to prisoners, and in many cases didn’t refill their prescriptions, including for a cancer patient who ran out of leukemia medication. 

In related news from California, Border Patrol agents deported a Honduran asylum seeker to Mexico after she went into labor while in custody.  The woman had recently crossed into the U.S. with her partner. She was eventually taken to a hospital south of Tijuana, where she gave birth.