Manuel Madrid | March 16, 2020
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has fundamentally changed daily life in South Florida, where large gatherings have been canceled. Public health experts recommend working from home and avoiding public transportation, if possible, to stem the spread of COVID-19. All of those precautions, however, appear to go out the window when it comes to immigrants, who, with few exceptions, must still report to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broward County.
Immigrant-rights groups have been banging the drum since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis by pressuring ICE to suspend all physical check-ins and release as many migrant detainees as possible from detention centers. This past Friday, a group of activists held a press conference in front of the Broward County ICE office in Miramar, where hundreds of immigrants line up daily to meet with federal officials for in-person meetings. Many of those waiting in line are elderly — a group identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as high-risk for COVID-19 deaths.
Afraid of coronavirus but even more frightened of deportation, those immigrants are forced to disregard CDC recommendations when they take public transportation and stand in long lines for hours without access to facilities where they can wash their hands.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has fundamentally changed daily life in South Florida, where large gatherings have been canceled. Public health experts recommend working from home and avoiding public transportation, if possible, to stem the spread of COVID-19. All of those precautions, however, appear to go out the window when it comes to immigrants, who, with few exceptions, must still report to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broward County.
Immigrant-rights groups have been banging the drum since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis by pressuring ICE to suspend all physical check-ins and release as many migrant detainees as possible from detention centers. This past Friday, a group of activists held a press conference in front of the Broward County ICE office in Miramar, where hundreds of immigrants line up daily to meet with federal officials for in-person meetings. Many of those waiting in line are elderly — a group identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as high-risk for COVID-19 deaths.
Afraid of coronavirus but even more frightened of deportation, those immigrants are forced to disregard CDC recommendations when they take public transportation and stand in long lines for hours without access to facilities where they can wash their hands.
Additionally, according to anecdotal reports received by members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the ICE office in Tampa also is in the process of closing down most operations, though the office hasn’t formerly confirmed its closure.
“The only place in the region we haven’t heard from is Miramar,” Simpson says. “We’re getting mixed messages. Local and state governments have advised against these kinds of large gatherings, and then we have ICE requiring people to check in.”
In a message sent to Miami Herald reporter Monique Madan this past Saturday, an official said the agency would not pause check-ins but would allow immigrants to call to reschedule their hearings. ICE echoed that same message in an email to New Times today.
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Miami is working to minimize the impact of COVID-19 by temporarily rescheduling and reducing in-person appointments of non-detained aliens on a case-by-case basis,” the agency wrote. “Any person with an upcoming appointment who is ill, or had close contact with someone who is ill, should contact the Miami Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field office prior to their scheduled appointment for further guidance.”
Americans for Immigrant Justice has been working to get the word out about the rescheduling option, but Simpson says many immigrants still don’t know they’re allowed to postpone their check-ins. Moreover, a call or email to reschedule might not be enough: Reports that Simpson and others have received indicate that many rescheduling requests have gone unanswered or unapproved.
A massive line of immigrants outside the Miramar facility this morning suggests the check-ins are proceeding as usual.