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New allegations of forced hysterectomies in ICE detention were reported by the Associated Press on Friday. AP reviewed the medical records of four women at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, who said they were given hysterectomies without their consent at the immigration jail by Dr. Mahendra Amin. Amin was also the subject of a complaint by whistleblower Dawn Wooten, a nurse at Irwin County, who said he performed similar procedures. Medical records indicate there may have been medical grounds to perform the procedures, but the women could’ve been unaware they were happening. Still, AP did not find evidence of mass hysterectomies, as was alleged in Wooten’s complaint. Amin forcefully denied the allegation through his lawyer. Associated Press
In other national immigration news…
New Allegations of Forced Hysterectomies Emerge
New allegations of forced hysterectomies in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention were reported by the Associated Press on Friday. AP reviewed the medical records of four women at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia, who said they were given hysterectomies without their consent at the immigration jail by Dr. Mahendra Amin. Amin was also the subject of a complaint by whistleblower Dawn Wooten, a nurse at Irwin County, who said he performed similar procedures. Medical records indicate there may have been medical grounds to perform the procedures, but the women could’ve been unaware they were happening. Still, AP did not find evidence of mass hysterectomies, as was alleged in Wooten’s complaint. Amin forcefully denied the complaint through his lawyer. Associated Press
ICE Reportedly Tried to Deport Forced Hysterectomy Victim with False Documents
ICE reportedly attempted to deport Pauline Binam, a 30-year-old Cameroonian American woman who was among people alleging she had a forced hysterectomy at the Irwin County Detention Facility. She told reporters that Dr. Mahendra Amin removed one of her fallopian tubes without her consent. Amin is the subject of multiple similar complaints [see above]. Binam has been held in ICE detention for three years and was set to be deported Wednesday using potentially illegal documents from an honorary consul who has issued false travel documents to ICE previously. Binam’s mother said she refused to board the deportation flight at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Joe Penney Substack
ICE to Begin Collecting DNA Samples
ICE is expected to begin collecting DNA samples of people arrested nationwide in October, BuzzFeed News reports. ICE officials will begin the collection in stages across different regions of the U.S. A pilot project has been ongoing in Dallas since May, where people are swabbed for DNA when they are booked into custody. This will be replicated nationwide in October, with ICE considering prosecuting immigrants who refuse to take part. The decision will likely face pushback from civil and immigrant rights groups. The expansion was spurred by a Justice Department regulation expanding the right of the federal government to collect DNA. BuzzFeed News
Detainees on ICE Air Flights Face Poor Medical Treatment
Heart attacks, miscarriages and even death have occurred on ICE flights shuttling detainees around the country, according to complaints filed since 2012. Among other issues, ICE has repeatedly failed to get advance approval before transporting detainees with medical conditions, complaints show. ICE also sometimes packs detainees’ prescription drugs in the cargo area, making them inaccessible during the flight. ICE field offices have been reprimanded at least a dozen times since 2016 for failing to provide medications to passengers. Still, even during the pandemic while almost all travel was restricted, ICE continued to fly detainees around the country and the world using its network of chartered planes. Capital & Main/The Guardian
Farmworkers Continue to Work Despite Wildfires
Farmworkers — jobs that are mostly held by immigrants — have had to continue tending fields despite wildfires in Washington, Oregon and California. Even during the smokiest days, immigrant farmworkers have continued to work typical eight-hour shifts because they lack economic safety nets. “It’s dangerous to work in this air, but the bills don’t wait,” said Maricela, a farmworker at a vineyard in Southern Oregon who almost lost her home to the fire. Nearly 80 large fires have ripped through western states in recent weeks, burning more than 3.8 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. PRI
