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ACLU Calls On ICE To Suspend Some Activities During Coronavirus Pandemic

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/
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ICE has been criticized for continuing to perform immigration raids during the coronavirus pandemic and detaining people in crowded facilities.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise around the world, there’s been concern about people in detention centers and the continued arrests of undocumented immigrants. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot arrest people who are seeking care at hospitals, they are still making new arrests.

ICE has been criticized for continuing to perform immigration raids during the pandemic and detaining people in crowded facilities. The agency was criticized for failing to provide adequate medical care to people in its detention centers even before the pandemic. It’s unclear if ICE is taking precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus in their facilities.

Earlier this week a federal judge ordered the release of 10 chronically ill detainees, and the ACLU has called on ICE to stop most of its pick up and raids during this pandemic.

"We really think that they need to stop doing enforcement in communities more broadly, so that people do not feel scared going to a pharmacy to pick up medicine or going to the grocery store to get supplies," says Tim Muth, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Wisconsin. 

During this pandemic, WUWM's Bubbler Talk is focusing on the coronavirus and its impact on the Milwaukee area. If you have a question, submit it below.

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Joy is a WUWM host and producer for Lake Effect.