Louisiana ICE Detainees Stage Hunger Strike at Angola

A hunger strike involving nineteen detainees at a Louisiana immigration detention center, located within the notorious Angola prison, entered its fifth day Sunday. Advocacy groups, the Southeast Dignity Not Detention Coalition (SEDND) and the National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), reported the action, highlighting the detainees’ demands for improved conditions.

Critical Access Denied

The strikers, housed at the ICE processing center established within Angola’s former Camp J—a facility the Trump administration dubbed the “Louisiana Lockup”—are protesting a lack of essential medical and mental healthcare, including access to prescribed medications. Their concerns extend to basic necessities, including adequate sanitation supplies (toilet paper and hygiene products), and clean drinking water.

The groups further stated that detainees are also seeking increased oversight and accountability. Specifically, they are requesting regular visits from ICE officials to address their concerns directly. The current situation, they claim, leaves individuals with chronic illnesses without their necessary medications, creating a serious health risk. Furthermore, the detainees are denied access to essential services mandated by federal detention standards, such as a law library and religious programming.

Conditions at the Louisiana Lockup

The hunger strike follows Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s July declaration of a state of emergency, citing prison overcrowding. Advocates contend that the repurposing of Camp J for immigration detention has led to unsafe and inhumane conditions for detainees. The SEDND released a statement emphasizing the severity of the situation: “The real emergency is what’s happening inside: people are being denied life-saving medication, and some may die as a result. These hunger strikers are bravely speaking out, risking retaliation from Camp J guards and putting their own lives on the line to ensure those around them receive the medical care they need.”

Humanitarian Crisis Concerns

The location of the detention center, within the confines of Angola, a facility with a long and controversial history, adds another layer of complexity to the issue. Critics argue that the environment is inherently unsuitable for individuals awaiting immigration proceedings. The lack of adequate medical care and essential services, coupled with the inherent stresses of detention, exacerbates the already precarious situation for those involved. The hunger strike serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of immigration policies and the conditions within the nation’s detention system.

The situation underscores a broader concern about the treatment of detainees within the US immigration system. With Louisiana holding the second-largest population of immigrant detainees in the nation, after Texas, the ongoing hunger strike highlights the need for increased scrutiny and reform.

The detainees’ demands for basic human rights and adequate healthcare are central to this ongoing crisis. The lack of response from authorities has left advocates deeply concerned about the potential for further deterioration of the situation and the possibility of serious health consequences for the hunger strikers.

Source: The Guardian