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Court orders COVID-19 testing for ICE detainees, stops new additions to Bristol County detention
BOSTON — A federal court in Boston ruled in favor of immigrants detained by ICE at Bristol County Thursday.
According to Lawyers for Civil Rights, who have been representing the detained immigrants in the case, the court ruled that the Bristol County Sheriff and ICE likely acted unconstitutionally and showed deliberate indifference to the substantial risk of serious harm posed by COVID-19 to the detainees in their care. As evidence, the court pointed to BCHOC’s failure to conduct comprehensive testing or contact tracing, and its refusal to voluntarily consider release of any detainees.
To date, the class action has resulted in the release of 50 detainees.
The court ordered COVID-19 testing be made available as soon as possible for all detainees and all staff who had any contact with immigrant detainees, at ICE’s expense. The court also ordered that there are to be no new people admitted to immigration detention at Bristol County, effective immediately.
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