Congressional Democrats send scathing letter to ICE and DHS decrying treatment of hunger strikers
Summary
Seven Democratic members of Congress sent DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE Director David Venturella a letter demanding information about conditions at the El Valle detention facility in Raymondville, Texas. They cited hunger strikers’ allegations of poor medical care, unsafe drinking water and threats of force-feeding, and called for detainees to be released and protected from force-feeding; DHS disputed the lawmakers’ criticism but did not provide evidence that the strikers had criminal histories.Key Facts
- The letter was led by Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois and signed by six other Democrats, including Texas Representatives Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett.
- Detainees at El Valle began a hunger strike on October 11, and it was approaching three weeks when the article was published.
- Some detainees say they are protesting their detention and seeking faster case processing or transfers closer to family.
- The lawmakers requested details about the facility’s detainee population and medical care, and asked officials not to force-feed anyone in custody.
- El Valle is owned by the Willacy County Local Government Corporation and operated by the private prison company Management and Training Corporation.
- A DHS spokesperson said the department handles official correspondence through official channels and accused the lawmakers of vilifying law enforcement.
- The article also reports that senators from Georgia raised concerns about a hunger strike at the Folkston ICE detention complex; DHS denied that strikers there had been threatened with force-feeding.
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