Inmates who went on a hunger strike at the Torrance Detention Center in New Mexico last week wrote a letter to denounce the unsanitary conditions at the facilities and the cruelty with which they are treated. They made revelations about 23yearold Brazilian Kesley Vial, who was in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and died in August at the University of New Mexico (UNMH) Hospital in the city of Albuquerque.
According to the letter, the young Brazilian’s death was the result of a suicide attempt as he was under the stress of not being able to get information about his case. The letter said: “The officer came to us and threatened that everyone would be deported and that no one else would be allowed to ask when they were leaving the place. Then the guard said they would be detained every up to two years. The next day we learned that one person had killed himself out of desperation and the stress the officer had caused.”
According to the NM policy report, inmates described the “very bad” conditions, including mold in the bathroom, raw food, fungal infections on the men’s heads from unsanitary barber tools, and excessive numbers of flies and mosquitoes. Despite unsanitary conditions, lack of security, serious staff shortages and other fundamental shortcomings, the prison continues to accept detainees without making any improvements.
In response, CoreCivic said the open letter made “several false claims about conditions at the site, some of which can be easily refuted.”
“All detainees have daily access to medical care, including psychiatric services. Our clinic is staffed by licensed and accredited physicians, nurses and psychiatrists who are contracted to meet the highest standards of care. We are firmly committed to providing those we serve with access to lawyers and courts, which is enshrined in our Human Rights Policy. Our facilities have not received any complaints or grievances from detainees or attorneys regarding legal access issues.”
In March, the US Department of Homeland Security even called for the plant to be shut down. “Torrance is severely understaffed, which has prevented it from meeting contractual requirements that ensure detainees are kept in a safe, secure and humane environment,” said the document, detailing the removal of all detainees from the TCDF is called after a number of detainees were found at the site having problems.
In a statement, ICE said it is “strongly committed to the health and wellbeing of everyone in its custody and is conducting a comprehensive, agencywide review of this incident, as is done in all such cases.” “Deaths in ICE custody are statistically extremely rare, occurring in a fraction of the national average for the incarcerated US population,” he added.
The department further stated: “Comprehensive medical care will be provided from the time people arrive and throughout their stay. All persons in ICE custody will receive a medical, dental and mental health evaluation within 12 hours of arrival at a detention facility, a full health assessment within 14 days of admission into ICE custody or arrival at a facility, and access to daily medical calls and Providing 24hour emergency care to individuals in agency custody, ICE spends more than $315 million annually on the spectrum of healthcare services provided to individuals in ICE custody,” he added.
remember the case
According to the US Border Protection Agency, the Brazilian entered the country illegally in midApril and was sent to ICE in El Paso, Texas, on the 29th of the month to await the conclusion of his case. He was later moved to the Torrance County Detention Center (TCDF) in New Mexico.
According to ICE, Kesley Vial was found unconscious on August 17 while being held at the TCDF. The center’s medical staff provided first aid and contacted local paramedics. The ambulance was called and transported him to the UNMH.
ICE said it had notified the Brazilian consulate in Houston, Texas of Kesley Vial’s death. His relatives, residents of Danbury, Connecticut, were warned by hospital staff.