The Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security, recently
issued a memorandum concerning the availability of mental health providers
and care for immigrant detainees. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) Health Service Corps (IHSC) is responsible for providing any medical
treatment and care for detainees. IHSC offers medical and mental health
care at 21 of the 230 ICE detention facilities, and additionally contracts
with local providers and facilities to provide mental health treatment
as needed. This recent report indicated that while ICE has implemented
many recommendations regarding inmates’ mental health care, there
still are deficiencies in the mental health treatment available to detainees.
For instance, ICE officials have difficulties attracting and retaining
psychiatrists at detention facilities located in remote and rural areas.
ICE is unable to offer competitive pay rates for psychiatrists, and a
lengthy security clearance process often causes applicants to accept other
opportunities. Although ICE has used Title 38 hiring authorities to recruit
and pay for health care personnel, which helps federal agencies better
compete with nonfederal employers with more flexible recruitment, retention,
and pay, staffing challenges continue. ICE has taken steps to increase
the availability of resources for detainees with mental health conditions,
ensure that detention facilities do not misuse segregation in mental health
cases, and place detainees with mental health issues in facilities that
have the most resources and treatment options available. These steps are
improvements that OIG previously had recommended. With these staffing
issues in mind, OIG continues to provide oversight in order to ensure
that ICE adequately meets the mental health needs of immigrant detainees.
For example, OIG is conducting periodic inspections of the facilities
providing housing to ICE detainees to make sure that the conditions are
adequate not only for immigrants in general, but for those with mental
health conditions.
Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C.
is an Oakland immigration law firm who has dedicated their practice to
protecting the interests of immigrants who are seeking to remain in the
U.S. and facing potential deportation. We are prepared to build the strongest
case possible in order to
defend you against deportation. Contact us today to set up your free evaluation and discover what assistance
we can offer to you and your family.
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