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Broken Air Conditioning Mandates Release from ICE Detention, Attorneys Say

Lawyers say air conditioners are broken in the Bergen County Jail as temperatures near 100°, but the jail says that's not true

Max Siegelbaum

Jul 29, 2020

Bergen County Jail

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This summary was featured in Documented’s Early Arrival newsletter. You can subscribe to receive it in your inbox three times per week here.

A group of attorneys is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release immigrant detainees from the Bergen County Jail because of broken air conditioners. The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project sent a letter to ICE saying A/C systems in several units of the jail were broken and detainees were “enduring oppressive and dangerous conditions of heat and lack of ventilation.” “No detainees/inmates have formally notified staff of high heat conditions and/or requested medical attention due to heat exhaustion in the facility,” said Keisha McLean, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office. North Jersey

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Max Siegelbaum

Co-executive Director of Documented

@MaxSiegelbaum

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