WASHINGTON DC (July 25, 2019) — Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are seeking information from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on the use of solitary confinement following recent allegations of misuse. In a letter today to Acting ICE Director Matthew Albence, the Senators note recent inspector general reports that highlighted deficiencies by some ICE field offices in properly reporting and documenting the use of solitary confinement.
“It is imperative that ICE swiftly resolve any lacking oversight or improper documentation pertaining to the use of segregation,” the senators wrote in the letter.
The IG reports also indicated that ICE field offices are limited in their abilities to handle the array of challenges presented by different detention facilities.
Today’s letter follows previous oversight on the use of solitary confinement at the Department of Homeland Security. In 2015 Grassley and then-Sen Al Franken (D-MN) raised concerns about the use of solitary confinement at DHS facilities and requested information on the policies governing the practice.
Text of today’s letter from Grassley and Blumenthal to Acting Director Albence enclosed.