U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, said his office was recently notified of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to house its detainees in additional prison facilities, including the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. He said detainees will soon be placed in two separate housing units for men and women.
While he hasn’t seen the agreement between the Federal Bureau of Prisons and ICE, Case said in a statement that such agreements routinely impose various requirements on ICE, “including conditions and duration of detention and reimbursement of costs … .”
“Unless and until I know more, I don’t believe ICE’s routine ongoing use of FDCH is a concern, though an open question is whether FDCH has the capacity, equipment and staffing to safely and securely address any increased ICE temporary detention needs, ” he said.—RELATED : Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center to house ICE detainees Case said he is asking the two federal agencies to produce the agreement and any plans to increase ICE’s use of the Honolulu detention center, and if that happens, “how adequate security, staffing, equipment and detainee health and safety will be assured.”
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, said she has heard complaints about conditions at the facility and had arranged to visit this week after issues were raised by the diplomatic community about foreign nationals being held there.
“While I was called back to (Washington, D.C.) for votes and could not go this week, I intend to return as soon as possible for another visit as these complaints are deeply troubling, especially if FDC Honolulu is going to be taking in even more detainees from outside the islands, ” she said in a statement. “No one, regardless of their immigration status, should be subjected to inhumane treatment. This is a matter of basic human rights.”
U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono did not immediately respond to a request for comment.