Investigation Reveals Shoddy Medical Care at New York's Largest ICE Prison
A recent investigation has uncovered alarming allegations of shoddy medical care at the Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center, the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prison in the US. At least a dozen detainees have been subjected to subpar treatment, including untreated serious injuries, denied medications, and delayed medical appointments.
One disturbing case involved Nigerian migrant Chidi Nwagbo, who suffered frostbite during his journey to the US. After being released from hospital care, ICE agents failed to take him to see a specialist as ordered by his doctor, resulting in amputations of six fingers due to the delay.
Another case involved Tim, also a Nigerian detainee, who fell and sustained a concussion while serving time for a fraud conviction. Despite being prescribed nine medications and ordered physical therapy, he was left without medication for over a month and received only one session before being deported. He is now forced to use a walker due to his deteriorating condition.
These cases are not isolated incidents, as several other detainees have reported similar experiences with delayed or denied medical treatment, including inadequate pain management and lack of access to specialized care.
ICE's own standards require the provision of prescribed medications, timely responses to medical complaints, and hospitalization as needed. However, a recent investigation by NPR found similar problems across ICE's network of detention centers.
"The lack of medical care, and with ICE being deliberately indifferent to people's medical needs, could, in many of these instances, rise to the level of a constitutional violation," said Sophie Dalsimer, an attorney with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "It certainly appears to be a violation of ICE's own detention standards."
The investigation, which reviewed nearly 600 pages of court filings and medical records, also found that the Batavia facility lacks a doctor and dentist on-site, leaving detainees without access to basic medical care.
Detainees have suffered severe consequences as a result of these poor medical practices. Some have been left with permanent disabilities or life-threatening conditions due to delayed treatment, while others have experienced mental health issues and suicidal thoughts as a direct result of the inadequate care they received.
As one detainee, Renny Arcaya-Ventura, described his experience: "I am in intense pain every day... Every day I have a fever, pains in my body [and] I can’t even walk. I have even lost a lot of weight."
The investigation has raised serious concerns about the treatment of detainees at ICE facilities and the agency's commitment to providing adequate medical care.
"It’s just freak luck that no one has died in Batavia in the last two years," said Aaron Krupp, regional coordinator at Justice for Migrant Families. "But the way they have treated people, people really easily could have died."
The Intercept is committed to shedding light on these critical issues and pushing for reforms that prioritize the health and well-being of detainees.
A recent investigation has uncovered alarming allegations of shoddy medical care at the Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center, the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prison in the US. At least a dozen detainees have been subjected to subpar treatment, including untreated serious injuries, denied medications, and delayed medical appointments.
One disturbing case involved Nigerian migrant Chidi Nwagbo, who suffered frostbite during his journey to the US. After being released from hospital care, ICE agents failed to take him to see a specialist as ordered by his doctor, resulting in amputations of six fingers due to the delay.
Another case involved Tim, also a Nigerian detainee, who fell and sustained a concussion while serving time for a fraud conviction. Despite being prescribed nine medications and ordered physical therapy, he was left without medication for over a month and received only one session before being deported. He is now forced to use a walker due to his deteriorating condition.
These cases are not isolated incidents, as several other detainees have reported similar experiences with delayed or denied medical treatment, including inadequate pain management and lack of access to specialized care.
ICE's own standards require the provision of prescribed medications, timely responses to medical complaints, and hospitalization as needed. However, a recent investigation by NPR found similar problems across ICE's network of detention centers.
"The lack of medical care, and with ICE being deliberately indifferent to people's medical needs, could, in many of these instances, rise to the level of a constitutional violation," said Sophie Dalsimer, an attorney with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. "It certainly appears to be a violation of ICE's own detention standards."
The investigation, which reviewed nearly 600 pages of court filings and medical records, also found that the Batavia facility lacks a doctor and dentist on-site, leaving detainees without access to basic medical care.
Detainees have suffered severe consequences as a result of these poor medical practices. Some have been left with permanent disabilities or life-threatening conditions due to delayed treatment, while others have experienced mental health issues and suicidal thoughts as a direct result of the inadequate care they received.
As one detainee, Renny Arcaya-Ventura, described his experience: "I am in intense pain every day... Every day I have a fever, pains in my body [and] I can’t even walk. I have even lost a lot of weight."
The investigation has raised serious concerns about the treatment of detainees at ICE facilities and the agency's commitment to providing adequate medical care.
"It’s just freak luck that no one has died in Batavia in the last two years," said Aaron Krupp, regional coordinator at Justice for Migrant Families. "But the way they have treated people, people really easily could have died."
The Intercept is committed to shedding light on these critical issues and pushing for reforms that prioritize the health and well-being of detainees.
like how can you just ignore someone's medical needs when it's literally life or death stuff? i'm not saying we should be soft on people who commit crimes, but come on... a guy loses six fingers because he wasn't seen by a specialist in time? that's some messed up neglect right there 
ICE is supposed to be looking out for ppl's health, but instead they're kinda leaving them to rot 
. I mean, we all know that healthcare can be super inconsistent in the US, even outside detention centers 
. And let's not forget that these ppl were already going through a lot, crossing borders and facing uncertainty about their future 
.
. But can we please take a deep breath and try to have a more nuanced conversation about this? Maybe instead of focusing on ICE's failures, we should be exploring ways to improve medical care for everyone, regardless of where they are or who they are 
.
!
man, this is just heartbreaking...ICE's largest prison in NY and they're still able to neglect medical care like this? Six fingers amputated because they didn't get the dude to a specialist on time...what kinda system allows that? 
it's crazy how some places prioritize profits over people's lives. Detainees are already in a vulnerable state, then you add this to the mix and it's just devastating. We need reform ASAP...these conditions aren't okay! 
can't believe what's going on in those detention centers...ICE is supposed to be helping people who are already vulnerable, but instead they're putting them through this torture 
. Chidi Nwagbo's case is just heartbreaking - six fingers gone because of a delay in treatment? What kind of system allows that to happen?! 
. We need to be holding our governments accountable for ensuring that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, gets the care they need 
.
It's just more proof that the government doesn't actually care about its citizens... or in this case, whoever's stuck behind bars at the moment 
This is absolute madness 
. ICE needs a complete overhaul 
, starting with providing basic medical care that's within the realm of human decency 
. Delayed treatment can lead to life-altering consequences 
#JusticeForDetainees #MedicalMistreatment #ICEAccountability
i feel so bad for all these ppl who are suffering because of ice's negligence. some ppl even had to have their fingers amputated cuz the delay 
it's just not right. we need to make sure that ice is held accountable for this stuff 
just heard about this shocking investigation into medical care at the Batavia ICE prison 
.
? It's like, what even is the point of having standards if no one's enforcing them? 
. I mean, it's not like this is a new issue or something... we've been hearing about ICE's shoddy medical care for years, and yet, nothing changes 
.
. We can't keep putting people's lives at risk just because they're in detention 
, but we need more voices speaking out 
. Who else is with me? 
.
. It's time for us to demand better from our government and institutions.
and accountability 
, mental health issues and suicidal thoughts from neglecting basic medical care 
. I mean, delaying medication, ignoring doctor orders, and neglecting basic medical care can have severe consequences 
it's not just about the physical health, mental health matters too... I'm sending love and support to all the detainees who are going through this 
. I mean, who gets frostbite on the way to America and then has to deal with ICE being all like "oh, you're good" 
.
. And let's be real, some of these detainees are immigrants who are trying to get a fresh start in the US, they shouldn't expect luxury medical treatment just because they're incarcerated