DHS watchdog: Migrants weren't tested for COVID before transport on domestic commercial flights
CBSN
The top watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) failed to test migrants before transferring, transporting and releasing migrants from ICE detention facilities – a clear violation of the department's COVID-19 policy. Coordinate with CBP and the DHS Chief Medical Officer to determine and document whether noncitizen unaccompanied children and family units should be tested for COVID-19 before transport on domestic commercial flights. If ICE ERO determines noncitizen unaccompanied children and family units should be tested, we recommend ICE ERO develop detailed testing policies and establish controls to ensure staff and contractors follow the policies. These policies should include modes of transportation and timeframes for mandatory testing before transport. Establish controls to ensure staff and contractors follow existing requirements to test single adults for COVID-19 before transfer using domestic commercial flights. Clarify existing COVID-19 testing policies to include modes of transportation and timeframes for mandatory testing before transport. Maintain complete and accurate migrant COVID-19 testing and transport records.
"We identified numerous instances where ERO could not provide evidence that single adults, family units, and [unaccompanied children] were tested for COVID-19 before transport on domestic commercial flights," the report, authored by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at DHS, found.
The watchdog noted that "without clear COVID-19 testing policies and controls in place to enforce these policies, ERO may transport COVID-19–positive migrants on domestic commercial flights." The report said the failed policy "risk[ed] exposing other migrants, ERO staff, and the general public to COVID-19."
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