Immigration: the US strengthens protections for detained noncitizen Caribbean immigrants with mental disorders

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Envelope from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services with the American flag on top/U.S. immigration concept

WASHINGTON, DC– The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced new policies to strengthen protections for detained noncitizen Caribbean and other immigrants with severe mental disorders or conditions. 

The new guidance, addressed in “ICE Directive 11063.2 Identification, Communication, Recordkeeping, and Safe Release Planning for Detained Individuals with Serious Mental Disorders or Conditions,” focuses on the identification, treatment, and monitoring of this particularly vulnerable population. 

“ICE continues its efforts to implement policies and directives that support a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system,” said ICE Acting Director Tae D. Johnson. “The directive strengthens existing guidelines regarding the treatment of detainees who have a serious mental disorder or condition, including policies regarding their transfer, removal, or safe release, when appropriate and permitted under law.” 

ICE said this new directive aligns with and reinforces the US Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) policy that provides certain procedural protections to unrepresented, detained respondents with severe mental disorders or conditions “that may render them incompetent to represent themselves in immigration proceedings.” 

The new ICE directive includes: Providing ICE-specific guidelines on identifying, monitoring, and tracking detainees found to have a severe mental disorder or condition; and ensuring ICE will provide to EOIR the information relevant to an individual’s mental severe illness or need for an immigration judge to determine whether the individual is competent to represent themselves in removal proceedings. 

The directive also calls for instituting additional safeguards before the transfer, release, or removal of immigrants with severe mental disorders or conditions and who are incompetent to represent themselves in removal proceedings before EOIR, including communication protocols between ICE and attorneys of record, legal representatives or qualified representatives “to ensure efficient information sharing and coordination between the relevant parties,” ICE said. 

In addition, the directive requires ICE to document in the “Enforce Alien Removal Module properly,” and any successor systems, “all relevant information regarding detained noncitizens who have been found to have a serious mental disorder or condition.” 

Consistent with ICE’s national detention standards, ICE said all persons in its custody generally receive a comprehensive examination from a qualified health care professional within 14 days of arrival at a detention facility to identify any medical, mental health, or dental conditions. 

“Individuals identified as having serious mental disorders or conditions are provided appropriate treatment and monitoring,” ICE said. “Additionally, information relevant to an individual’s mental state is provided to EOIR, so an immigration judge can assess the individual’s competency and appoint counsel if necessary.”

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