ACLU: Government Has the Duty to Report and Investigate Detainee Deaths
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:(202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the “Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2011,” H.R. 2189, a measure that would require state and federal authorities to promptly report all deaths of individuals in law enforcement custody to the U.S. Attorney General. Failure to report the in-custody deaths of detainees, including immigrants, could result in state facilities forfeiting up to 10 percent of their Byrne Grant funds.
“Immigration detention facilities have never been required by law to report detainee deaths,” said Joanne Lin, ACLU legislative counsel. “This bipartisan measure requiring state and federal authorities to be accountable to the public will not only provide much-needed transparency, but also could shed light on unsafe detention practices and conditions.”
Stay informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The latest in Immigrants' Rights
-
Three Years Later, COVID-19 is Still a Threat to People Who Are Incarcerated
-
Florida Sheriff Settles Lawsuit for Unlawfully Profiling and Detaining Florida Resident Born Abroad
-
ACLU Slams Biden’s Plans to Revive the Practice of Detaining Migrant Families
-
Child Labor Investigation Reveals Immigration Policy Changes We Need Now
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Immigrants' Rights
The fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.