Immigrants Detained in New Mexico Participate in Hunger Strike to Protest Medical Neglect and Other Abuses

For Immediate Release: November 16, 2022

“Medical abuse, racism, and immigration are intrinsically linked in this system”

MILAN, NEW MEXICO — In an open letter, immigrants detained at the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, New Mexico announced a hunger strike to protest dangerous conditions and mistreatment by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its private prison CoreCivic. 

In response to a suicide attempt by one of the immigrants detained at Cibola County Correctional Center on October 18, a group of 20 men began the hunger strike. Twenty-five men are currently striking. The men cite ICE and CoreCivic as being responsible for the suicide attempt as a result of the dreadful conditions and treatment.

“The majority of the detainees have languished for many months detained here without justification by ICE. These people have committed no crimes and present no danger to American society. They are seeking asylum and although they have legal sponsors, family ties and somewhere to live, they are denied their rights to release on parole, bond,” states the letter.

The men call for the end of ICE detention at Cibola, the release of migrants in the facility, and an end to immigration discrimination.

“We need help urgently, we will not wait for one of us to die here. We request our release. Please help us. Thank you and may God bless you,” the letter continues. 

Across the country, detention centers are rife with inhumane conditions and flagrant abuse despite President Biden's campaign promises to end prolonged immigration detention and the use of private detention centers. ICE operates more than 200 detention centers today, nearly 80% of which are privately operated.

Kesley Vial, a young Brazilian in ICE custody at the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF), died from suicide on August 24. Advocates allege the conditions and treatment of ICE and TCDF's operator CoreCivic led to his death. 

It has been repeatedly reported by survivors of detention that human right abuses run rampant at Cibola. Reuters found hundreds of unanswered medical requests at ICE's only transgender detention unit, located at the Cibola County Correctional Center, in 2020. Earlier this year, several high risk detained persons have spoken up about the medical neglect and discrimination they suffered at Cibola. It is clear that medical abuse, racism, and immigration are intrinsically linked in this system and if unresolved, they will have extreme adverse consequences.

You can find a full list of the men’s demands in English here.