Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Immigration Detention Centers Requires the Release of Detainees

William D Lopez; Nolan Kline; Alana M W LeBrón; Nicole L Novak; Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young; Gregg Gonsalves; Ranit Mishori; Basil A Safi; Ian M Kysel

doi:10.2105/AJPH.2020.305968

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Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Immigration Detention Centers Requires the Release of Detainees

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Immigration Detention Centers Requires the Release of Detainees

William D Lopez, Nolan Kline, Alana M W LeBrón, Nicole L Novak, Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, Gregg Gonsalves, Ranit Mishori, Basil A Safi and Ian M Kysel

American journal of public health (1971), Vol.111(1), pp.110-115

01/2021

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305968

PMCID: PMC7750591

PMID: 33211577

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7750591View

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Abstract

Immigration detention centers are densely populated facilities in which restrictive conditions limit detainees' abilities to engage in social distancing or hygiene practices designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With tens of thousands of adults and children in more than 200 immigration detention centers across the United States, immigration detention centers are likely to experience COVID-19 outbreaks and add substantially to the population of those infected.Despite compelling evidence indicating a heightened risk of infection among detainees, state and federal governments have done little to protect the health of detained im-migrants. An evidence-based public health framework must guide the COVID-19 response in immigration detention centers.We draw on the hierarchy of controls framework to demonstrate how immigration detention centers are failing to implement even the least effective control strategies. Drawing on this framework and recent legal and medical advocacy efforts, we argue that safely releasing detainees from immigration detention centers into their communities is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in immigration detention settings. Failure to do so will result in infection and death among those detained and deepen existing health and social inequities.

Adult

Child

COVID-19 - mortality

COVID-19 - transmission

Emigration and Immigration - legislation & jurisprudence

Humans

Jails - statistics & numerical data

Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data

United States

Details

Title: Subtitle: Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Immigration Detention Centers Requires the Release of Detainees
Creators: William D Lopez - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Nolan Kline - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Alana M W LeBrón - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Nicole L Novak - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Gregg Gonsalves - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Ranit Mishori - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Basil A Safi - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Ian M Kysel - William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of public health (1971), Vol.111(1), pp.110-115
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305968
PMID: 33211577
PMCID: PMC7750591
ISSN: 0090-0036
eISSN: 1541-0048
Language: English
Date published: 01/2021
Academic Unit: Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984215041602771

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