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Attached please find two sign-on letters written by the ACLU promoting the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act of 2008. These bills were introduced earlier this month by Rep. Lofgren and Sen. Menendez. The House (H.R. 5950) and Senate bills (S. 3005) are identical.
Many of you may have seen the recent extensive news coverage (New York Times, Washington Post, 60 Minutes, National Public Radio) on the problem of poor medical care in immigration detention facilities nationwide that has caused unnecessary suffering and deaths. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) medical standards are not currently codified and thus unenforceable. The Detainee Basic Medical Care Act would ensure minimum standards of medical and mental health care for individuals held in immigration detention.
The deadline for signing onto these letters is Friday, May 30th. Please contact Mary Bonventre, ACLU (mbonventre@dcaclu.org; 202/715-0829), if you would like to sign on. Many thanks for your support.
