Getting Your Loved One Out of ICE Detention

 In Immigration

COVID-19 poses a serious risk to those who are incarcerated. The Washington Post recently described them as “sitting ducks for the contagion.” We are particularly concerned about those who are 65 years old or older or who have underlying health concerns that would put them at higher risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19.

If this describes your loved one, we want to help. We understand that money is tight for many right now. For that reason, we are expanding our pro bono caseload for those most in need and offering reduced fees and flexible payment options for everyone else.

The situation is urgent. As of today, April 2, 2020, ICE has reported six confirmed cases of COVID-19 among its detainees at four different facilities:

  • Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, NJ (2 detainees)
  • Essex County Correctional Facility, Newark, NJ
  • Hudson County Jail, Kearny, NJ (2 detainees)
  • La Palma Correctional Facility, Eloy, AZ

In addition, ICE has reported five confirmed cases of COVID-19 among its employees and personnel working in four other detention facilities:

  • Aurora Contract Detention Facility, Aurora, CO (2 personnel)
  • Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility, Elizabeth, NJ
  • Houston Contract Detention Facility, Houston, TX
  • Hudson County Jail, Kearny, NJ

You may notice that five of the eight detention facilities are located close to home in New Jersey. A federal judge has already ordered the release of 10 people held in ICE detention facilities in New Jersey whose chronic health conditions put them at increased risk.

Anyone applying for bond should consider presenting evidence of any health concerns involving COVID-19. Those who were previously denied bond prior to the COVID-19 outbreak may apply for a custody redetermination based on changed circumstances. Decisions on bond are still being made on a case-by-case basis. The CDC has identified several factors that put one at greater risk:

  • People aged 65 years and older
  • People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
  • People who have serious heart conditions
  • People who are immunocompromised by conditions such as cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
  • People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
  • People with diabetes
  • People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
  • People with liver disease

Call us today at (215) 717-8000 to see what we can do to help.

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