REP. JUAN VARGAS JOINS CHC IN ICE DETENTION CENTER TOUR FOLLOWING WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS
Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2020) – Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) released a statement following his tour of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, alongside Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) members and members of the House Judiciary Committee. The tour comes after multiple immigrant women in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody were allegedly coerced into undergoing medical procedures, including hysterectomies.
"I demand a thorough investigation. I expected to hear some difficult stories but it was disturbing to hear what the detained women shared with us. The alleged treatment of these women is horrific. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and the Trump administration must be held accountable if the allegations are true.
"My colleagues and I came to Georgia demanding answers and are leaving shocked with what the women shared. DHS and ICE are responsible for properly overseeing the health and medical needs of all detainees in their custody. The whistleblower allegations are disturbing. I'm looking forward to the investigation uncovering the facts.
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County, and California’s entire U.S.-Mexico border. Vargas was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and is currently serving his fourth term in Congress.
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