Antonio, Democratic State Senators Call for Investigation of ICE Facility
September 18, 2020
Nickie J. Antonio News
Today, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security asking the Inspector General to open an investigation into the alleged medical neglect and high rates of hysterectomies by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia.
“All women must have the ability to make their own decisions about their bodies and reproductive health as well as whether and when to have children,” all nine members of the caucus said in their letter. “Taking that choice away from them forever is simply reprehensible.”
The letter comes in response to a whistleblower complaint from a former nurse at the center. The complaint cites the center’s medical neglect in responding to Covid-19, as well as the high number of hysterectomies among detained women – often performed without explicit and verifiable consent to the procedure and its consequences.
“These allegations call to mind the dark and disgraceful times of mass sterilization in the United States, especially among women of color and incarcerated women,” the letter says. “This is a history we must learn from, not repeat.”
Their letter can be found here.
“All women must have the ability to make their own decisions about their bodies and reproductive health as well as whether and when to have children,” all nine members of the caucus said in their letter. “Taking that choice away from them forever is simply reprehensible.”
The letter comes in response to a whistleblower complaint from a former nurse at the center. The complaint cites the center’s medical neglect in responding to Covid-19, as well as the high number of hysterectomies among detained women – often performed without explicit and verifiable consent to the procedure and its consequences.
“These allegations call to mind the dark and disgraceful times of mass sterilization in the United States, especially among women of color and incarcerated women,” the letter says. “This is a history we must learn from, not repeat.”
Their letter can be found here.