Inmates at the Stewart Detention Center (SDC) in Lumpkin, Georgia, have expressed serious reservations about their current living situation and how they’re being treated. Spearheaded by Sopheak Pal, a group of over 200 detainees has submitted an official grievance. Their claims include accusations of abuse, medical negligence, and acts of retribution within the center. They are urgently calling for the attention of both local officials and the Biden administration to rectify these distressing circumstances.
Reported Issues at SDC
Overseen by CoreCivic and operating under the aegis of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Stewart Detention Center has been the focus of various troubling allegations. Reports from the facility indicate prolonged solitary confinement, sexual abuse incidents, enforced labor, and a lack of sufficient medical treatment. Furthermore, a recent legal filing brought to light a significant mold outbreak within the facility, allegedly causing serious health complications for numerous detainees.
Calls for Reform and Closure
Jeff Migliozzi of Freedom for Immigrants, supporting the detainees’ claims, argues for the closure of such detention centers, citing persistent abusive conditions. The detainees, including Pal, are advocating for the shutdown of facilities like SDC, emphasizing the dire need for systemic reform.
Retaliation Against Petition Organizers
Since organizing the petition, Pal has reported facing retaliation from the facility’s management. This includes threats of charges for incitement and punitive actions like segregation and removal of commissary privileges.
Government Accountability and Oversight Issues
A 2020 report by the US Government Accountability Office indicated deficiencies in ICE’s oversight of detention facilities. This lack of enforceability and accountability has led to prolonged issues within the system, as noted by immigration attorney Sarah Owings and Priyanka Bhatt of Project South.
The Future of SDC Detainees
Many detainees at SDC, like Pal, face the threat of deportation to countries with which they have little or no connection. Pal, a green card holder originally from Cambodia, now faces imminent deportation despite his longstanding residence in the US and efforts at rehabilitation.
Calls for ICE Defunding
Advocates like Bhatt and Owings argue that ICE cannot be reformed and must be defunded, citing continuous violations and lack of accountability. They emphasize the need for a radical overhaul of the immigration detention system.
Conclusion
The conditions at the Stewart Detention Center highlight wider systemic problems in the US immigration detention framework, prompting critical discussions about human rights, oversight, and the necessity for thorough reform in immigration policies. The call from detainees for dignified treatment and the demand to shut down these types of facilities pose a substantial challenge to both legislators and advocates for human rights.
©unityus.org