The number of immigrants in federal detention centers has increased significantly under the leadership of President Joe Biden. Since the end of February, the number of detainees has doubled, reaching close to 27,000. This figure is higher compared to the total number of detainees as of August last year under the administration of former President Donald Trump.
Alexander Martinez says he fled to the United States to escape the infamous MS-13 gang and homophobia in his native El Salvador, but adds that abuse and harassment also accompanied him to the US immigration detention system.
Since crossing the US-Mexico border illegally in April, the 28-year-old has been transferred to six different detention centers in three states.
He says that during this time he was infected with COVID-19, he faced racial insults and abuse by the guards, while the detainees harassed him for the fact that he is gay.
“I am being detained for 47 days and I have seen approximately 13 immigrants trying to cut their veins or hang themselves because the way we are treated is inhumane.” says the immigrant from El Salvador.
In May, President Biden’s administration terminated contracts with two controversial detention centers – one in Georgia and the other in Massachusetts – which was hailed by activists as the start of change.
A White House spokesman said President Biden’s budget cuts funding for the number of beds in detention and increases them for processing asylum applications.
Mr. Martinez in May completed the first phase of the asylum process and his case was called credible that if he returns to his country he could face consequences.
His lawyers say he is being mistakenly held in custody, as authorities suspect he is a member of the MS-13 gang.
Detainees and their lawyers are calling for the closure of detention centers, while demanding that immigrants be monitored with surveillance equipment and other measures.
“I urge the authorities of this country, the organizations that support immigration reform and President Joe Biden not to allow immigrants to be treated inhumanely in correctional facilities.” says Mr. Martinez.
Last month immigrants held at the Bergen City Jail in New Jersey filed a complaint with the National Security’s civil rights office, demanding an investigation into poor sanitation and medical malpractice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Detainees at the Plymouth County, Massachusetts Correctional Facility did the same, complaining about the ban on visits.
Massachusetts resident Allison Cullen says she has not been allowed to meet her husband, a Brazilian national, since the pandemic.
“The situation has hurt my family a lot. This is not about justice, it is not about making America safer, it is not about community safety. “This is a dark age for America.” says over the phone in a phone call with his wife, Flavio Andrade Prado, an immigrant from Brazil who is in custody.
Ms Cullen says their two-year-old daughter has not met her father in months.
Immigrant Prado says he has lost faith in politicians, whom he accuses of promising a lot but failing to deliver when he takes office.
