Report faults immigrant detainee care

WASHINGTON — An internal investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general into the deaths of immigrants detained by the government has recommended better access to medical care, stronger oversight and general improvements in detention standards. But investigators in the limited probe commended officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that oversees immigrant detentions, for adhering to standards they are supposed to follow after detainees have died.

The department said the report, released this week, validated its approach to detainee care, but civil rights groups and immigrant rights advocates criticized the investigation, which focused on only two deaths out of the 74 that have occurred since 2004.

The critics said that although the report's recommendations mirrored their concerns about detainee care, the narrow scope of the inquiry reinforced how little information Homeland Security provides about detainees and the overall lack of accountability for their care.

The deaths of legal and illegal immigrants in detention have drawn widespread attention in the last year, resulting in lawsuits, investigative reports, the attention of a special United Nations investigator and two bills in Congress.

No one accountable

With the Bush administration's aggressive enforcement policies sending the number of jailed immigrants spiraling upward, the issue will remain a priority for Congress, Homeland Security and immigrant rights advocates, who point out that no government body is now responsible for accounting for detainee deaths.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have dismissed much of the criticism, but they also have made changes to detention standards. On Wednesday, they said the report validated their stance.

"ICE is pleased that the report corroborates that the deaths investigated were not the fault of ICE, nor could they have been prevented," said agency spokeswoman Kelly Nantel. The report also praised the agency for its "timely compliance with steps in ICE's detainee death standards," such as notifying family members and the consulate of the deceased's home country.

Nantel said ICE had implemented national detention standards and improved oversight by launching independent inspections at the 40 largest detention facilities. Immigrants are housed in centers run by ICE or private companies and in state and local jails that have agreed to take them.