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ICE will now provide heart surgery, biopsies and psychiatric care to detainees

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has agreed to begin providing medical care that goes well beyond emergency treatment, as a result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU. The suit alleged that ICE was not treating “immigration detainees with constitutionally adequate levels of medical and mental health care.”

Among the many services which ICE will now provide illegal aliens in their custody are heart surgeries, cancer biopsies, treatment for diabetes, dental care, and treatment for mental depression.

On Thursday, Elizabeth Alexander, former Director of the ACLU National Prison Project and lead attorney in the suit said: "For the first time, ICE has committed to providing all necessary health care to immigration detainees beyond just emergency care. For too long, ICE's own policies allowed it to provide detainees with nothing beyond a narrow definition of emergency. This settlement is recognition that it is unconstitutional not to provide people in government custody with all necessary health care."

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The legal action was filed in June 2007 by the ACLU and the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties and stated that detainees at the San Diego Correctional Facility were often subjected to long waits for medical treatment and denied medication for chronic illnesses.

The lawsuit cited several cases in which detainees with bipolar disorders and depression went untreated, as well as illegal aliens who never received care for high cholesterol and broken teeth.

No word yet on the estimated cost of this new policy to the taxpayers.

, Immigration Reform Examiner

Dave Gibson, a former legislative aide to a state senator, has been working as a freelance writer for many years. His work has been published in many newspapers and magazines including the Washington Times. He believes that the issue of illegal immigration is the most pressing issue of our time...

Comments

  • Profile picture of Sharon Smith
    Sharon Smith 1 year ago

    Ugh! I think I'm gonna hurl again! ACLU= All Crazy Lunatics Union

  • Delaware Bob 1 year ago

    When we get rid of all the illegal aliens, we will get rid of all the problems that go with them. THAT IS A FACT!

  • Estoban 1 year ago

    My Dream Act would outlaw the ACLU and secure our borders against illegal invaders.

  • June 1 year ago

    This is insantity of the highest order. What does Mexico and the other third world hellholes have on the US to be able to demand that we take care of their lawbreakers? The anti-American organizations, beginning with the ACLU, are traitors to this nation and need to be outlawed.

  • Apache 1 year ago

    Well one good start is to give detainees lobotomies
    and allow them to run for the U.S. Senate!

  • Concerned Citizen 1 year ago

    It appears that "Janet from another planet", is snorting something like a horse turd.

  • Vickie 1 year ago

    Hilarious! Well, it really is a pathetic situation, but your comment gave me a good laugh.

  • Vickie 1 year ago

    Somewhere along the line, someone has lost their collective minds.

  • gladysdavis 1 year ago

    "123 Get Samples" is the best source for free health product samples. Find tons of great stuff.

  • Profile picture of txgal
    txgal 1 year ago

    This is rediculous.....it seems that the illegals get better care than the American citizens...This is actually saying "come on over to our country and we will take great care of you....even in jail."
    We need to send the bill for caring for them to Mexico..
    I'd like to know why the ACLU aways get their cases approved and we never hear about it when it is happening?????
    This is costing us taxpayers to care for these illegals far beyond the normal care...and i am upset about it...

  • Profile picture of txgal
    txgal 1 year ago

    This is rediculous.....it seems that the illegals get better care than the American citizens...This is actually saying "come on over to our country and we will take great care of you....even in jail."
    We need to send the bill for caring for them to Mexico..
    I'd like to know why the ACLU aways get their cases approved and we never hear about it when it is happening?????
    This is costing us taxpayers to care for these illegals far beyond the normal care...and i am upset about it...

  • Nebraska Linda 1 year ago

    Doesn't ACLU have the word AMERICA in it somewhere. When have they ever helped AMERICANS? My God what is going on here. My husband and I do not have insurance and don't make enough to go to the doctor when needed. I haven't been to a dentist in 6 years. My husband bleeds every time he poops and where is the ACLU when we need them. I don't give a fat fart about the illegals broken teeth.

  • Pedro 1 year ago

    I do not have a good medical plan. How do I sign up as an illegal alien?

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