Sexual Abuse and Immigration Detention Facilities

Sexual abuse is a crisis among our nation’s immigration detainees that is not being adequately addressed. In 2003, Congress mandated that all U.S. confinement facilities implement significant changes to prevent and respond to sexual abuse. However, the risk of abuse faced by the tens of thousands of men, women, and children who are annually housed in immigration detention facilities continues because of inaction by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is ignoring the intent of Congress.