Detainees who identify as transgender have filed a complaint providing extensive details of severe mistreatment and disregard for their well-being at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

Detainees who identify as transgender have filed a complaint providing extensive details of severe mistreatment and disregard for their well-being at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

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A recent complaint was filed by the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, American Immigration Council, and The National Immigration Project on behalf of transgender and nonbinary individuals held at Colorado’s Aurora Contract Detention Facility under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The complaint sheds light on the troubling experiences these individuals face, including medical neglect, dehumanizing treatment, and lack of access to necessary mental health and medical care.

One detainee, Charlotte, expressed disappointment when she transferred to Aurora, believing there would be better access to gender-affirming care. However, she and other transgender women detainees are confined to their dorms for nearly the entire day, as stated by the American Immigration Council. This lack of freedom has led to increased distress among the detainees.

Victoria, another detainee, shared concerns about intentional mistreatment within the facility that causes individuals to give up on fighting their cases and sign deportation papers due to the unbearable conditions. The complaint also mentioned Victoria’s struggles with isolation worsening her health issues and delayed access to necessary medical care.

Ann Garcia, the staff attorney at the National Immigration Project, highlighted ICE’s inability to safely detain transgender and nonbinary individuals. The request for the release of these individuals due to the abusive environment at the Aurora facility brings attention to the larger issue of mistreatment within the immigration system.

Laura Lunn, Director of Advocacy & Litigation at Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, pointed out the discrepancy between ICE’s promotion of a “trans pod” at the Aurora facility and the reality of systemic flaws that cause harm to these marginalized groups. The complaints raised by the detainees challenge the notion of proper care and treatment within the facility.

Rebekah Wolf from the American Immigration Council emphasized the urgency of permanently ending the detention of transgender and nonbinary individuals due to ICE’s failure to ensure basic standards of care. The long-standing discrimination against these individuals at Aurora highlights the need for immediate action to address the traumatic experiences described in the complaint.

The complaint also highlights individual accounts, such as Elsa’s fear of dying due to medical neglect and Omar’s struggle to access hormone replacement therapy without facing solitary confinement. These stories emphasize the urgent need for gender-affirming care and proper treatment of transgender and nonbinary individuals within detention facilities.

Overall, this civil rights complaint is a call to action to address the systemic issues facing transgender and nonbinary individuals at the Aurora Contract Detention Facility. The testimonies shared in the complaint emphasize the need for reform within ICE’s detention practices to ensure the safety and well-being of all detainees, regardless of their gender identity.

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