Immigration and Customs Enforcement is eyeing New York State for expanding detention capacity.
The agency considered a location in the town of Chester but the Orange County Legislature voted unanimously to reject the proposed facility.
Rosa Santana, co-executive director of Envision Freedom Fund, said a bill in Albany, the Dignity Not Detention Act, is essential to doing more to protect immigrants’ rights.
“The bill will prohibit any person or any entity in the State of New York from owning or operating an immigrant facility, such as counties that have a contract with ICE,” Santana explained. “It will also prohibit any entity from entering into a new contract or receiving payments from immigrant detention.”
In 2018, Orange County made close to $9 million from the almost $134 daily fee ICE paid the county for housing detainees. While the Dignity Not Detention Act has received positive feedback from advocates and lawmakers, Santana feels other bills must be approved as well. She cited the New York for All Act, which ends agreements allowing local law enforcement to work with ICE, as one example.
Other concerns about ICE scouting for locations have been raised based on the conditions of its existing facilities. Complaints about the detention center at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City led Attorney General Letitia James to bring charges against ICE for holding people in inhumane conditions. Santana pointed out it can be challenging for families.
“It is agonizing hours and even days where people are being detained there for a day or two, just given a sandwich or not enough food,” Santana emphasized. “Sometimes there’s not even a place for them to sleep.”
The Department of Homeland Security could receive an additional $400 million to support detention centers but Senate Democrats are blocking the funding, demanding certain reforms be made to ICE.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.