ICE's Use of Notorious MDC Brooklyn Raises Concerns Over Immigrant Detention

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) and his colleagues called for an end to ICE's usage of the MDC Brooklyn to detain over 100 immigrants, citing its chronic understaffing, extended use of solitary confinement, unsanitary conditions, routine power outages, and lack of access to medical care and legal counsel. The facility has been deemed "barbaric" by federal judges, who have refused to send convicted criminals there due to its dire conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • ICE and the federal government are relocating immigration detainees to MDC Brooklyn, despite its well-documented record of being incredibly unsafe, inhumane, and cruel.
  • Federal judges have referred to the conditions in MDC Brooklyn as "barbaric" and have refused to send convicted criminals there.
  • The Trump Administration is sending non-criminal, non-charged, nonviolent immigrants, many of whom have ongoing asylum cases, to be detained in MDC Brooklyn.
  • The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has an interagency agreement with ICE to house over 100 immigration detainees at the Brooklyn MDC, but Rep. Goldman has demanded answers on this agreement and payment for staffing.
  • The Biden Administration had added a 35% retention bonus to increase staffing, which was later removed by the Trump Administration, resulting in decreased staffing and worsened conditions.
  • A recent bill increasing ICE's detention budget by $45 billion has raised concerns over who will pay for the increased detention costs.

Statistics:

  • 100+ immigrants are being detained at MDC Brooklyn
  • 40% of New Yorkers have immigrant ancestors or descendants
  • $45 billion: Increase in ICE's detention budget
  • 35%: Retention bonus added by the Biden Administration
  • 100+: ICE detainees transferred to MDC Brooklyn under supervision of BOP

Sources:

  • State Senator Andrew Gounardes
  • Assemblymember Bobby Carroll
  • U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10)
  • Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • Mixteca (immigrant organization)
  • Rough transcript of press conference hosted by Rep. Goldman and colleagues.