Otero County Processing Center, Chaparral, New Mexico
July 9, 2019-end date unknown
Five detainees started a hunger strike on July 9 to protest their detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) according to the group Advocate Visitors with Immigrants in Detention, or AVID. All of those participating are from Cuba. As of July 16, none of the men had eaten a meal and some were refusing water.
ICE released the following statement about the hunger strike, which was originally published by KFOX14, a local FOX affiliate in El Paso, Texas:
As of July 16, 2019, four individuals in ICE custody in the Otero County (NM) Processing Center are on hunger strike status. Due to privacy rules, we are prohibited from discussing the individuals by name or specifics of their case absent the detainee’s consent. In general, ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference. ICE does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers. ICE explains to our detainees the negative health effects of not eating. For their health and safety, ICE closely monitors the food and water intake of those detainees identified as being on a hunger strike.
The hunger strike takes place in the same week as three others at ICE operated or contracted facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi, and California.
Citations:
“Advocate group says five men on hunger strike at Otero County Processing Center“, KFox14, July 15, 2019.
