Latest news with #DHS-contracted
Los Angeles Times
10-07-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Officials denounce immigration guards camped at a Glendale hospital monitoring detainee
For a week, two guards linked to the the Department of Homeland Security have camped out in the lobby of a Glendale hospital to monitor the movements of a woman patient admitted after she was arrested by federal agents — a constant watch that has been denounced by nurses, a state lawmaker and others. Ariana Gomez, labor representative at California Nurses Association, which represents nurses at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, said Thursday there is 'overwhelming discomfort' about the use of the guards. 'It is very unusual to have immigration-related guards in the hospital lobby for any length of time,' said Gomez. 'This has never happened before.' California state Senator Sasha Renée Pérez said their encampment shows 'how aggressive the Trump administration has become in their pursuit to demonize and target our immigrant community.' Pérez also said she will back legislation to ensure immigration agents do not enter the private areas of hospital facilities, such as emergency rooms. At first, the guards positioned themselves behind a reception desk. The guards eventually moved a couple of feet away and several panels were erected to partially obscure their presence from hospital visitors in the lobby. Photos of the guards, who sit in chairs or stand, show them wearing masks, green-army shirts or pants. One photo shows a guard wearing an arm patch that reads: 'Detention Officer.' Immigration advocates, who have been camped out in the lobby since last week, took the images. On Tuesday night, two of the guards declined to identify themselves to the Times. Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital said in a statement that the 'hospital cannot legally restrict law enforcement or security personnel from being present in public areas which include the hospital lobby/waiting area.' The patient, Milagro Carolina Solis-Portillo, an El Salvador national, was arrested July 3 by federal officials near her Sherman Oaks home and later brought to the hospital after she suffered a medical emergency during her transport. Solis-Portillo 'is an illegal alien from El Salvador who has been removed from the United States twice and has been arrested for crimes of false identification, theft, and burglary,' said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She declined to comment on the protocol of DHS-contracted security at hospitals. Gomez, the nurses' labor representative, said the agents' presence is intimidating to people who enter the lobby. She also said that some family members of patients will not come to visit because they're afraid. The nurses have not been given direction from the hospital about what to say and how to respond when people ask about the guards. By law, nurses cannot share any patient information. 'The nurses do not want the guards there,' said Gomez. In a statement released through her attorney, Solis-Portillo said that she was treated inhumanely during her arrest by the agents, alleging that they yelled at her as she began vomiting while in their custody. She suggested she came to the U.S. for security reasons and disputed the government's account of her background. 'I wouldn't be safe in any other country. I have never had a single criminal conviction,' said Solis-Portillo. She said that agents told her to 'shut up' as she was being arrested and that she started 'panicking and vomiting and drowning in my own vomit,' during her arrest. 'When they saw how badly I was choking, they finally exited the freeway into a secluded area. As I threw up, they grabbed me by my head and yelled, 'Stop! Stop!' I was about lose consciousness, and they laughed at me, treated me inhumanely and abused their authority.' Lynn Damiano Pearson, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center, called the guards' extended presence in the hospital lobby 'a pretty unusual situation.' 'I would say absolutely that this is a gross misuse of resources,' said Pearson, who questioned whether the woman is a threat to public safety. Pearson, who is not involved in the case, said that immigration officials can't enter private areas, such as a hospital room, without a warrant. McLaughlin disputed Pearson's characterization of the use of the guards. 'I doubt the victims [Solis-Portillo] robbed and and burglarized would call it 'gross misuse,'' said McLaughlin and said officers responded to her medical condition. She also said it is a 'longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.' If Solis-Portillo has twice been removed twice from the U.S., she may be subject to expedited removal by the government without additional court proceedings, said Pearson. DHS declined to provide additional details about Solis-Portillo's case.
Malaysian Reserve
30-04-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Centurion Health Partners with Allegheny County to Launch Jail-Based Competency Restoration and Support Program to Reduce Wait Times
PITTSBURGH, April 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the launch of the Mobile Competency Restoration and Support Team (MCRST), a new program that delivers critical services to individuals found not competent to stand trial. The MCRST is the only mobile competency restoration team in Pennsylvania that offers both clinical treatment and psychoeducational support in a community-based model. People may be found not competent to stand trial due to serious mental illness, cognitive delays, or conditions like dementia that prevent them from understanding court proceedings or assisting in their defense. Once someone is found not competent, their case is paused until they are restored – or until alternative legal or clinical solutions are in place. Yet the only option for competency restoration for people held in the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ) is Torrance State Hospital – a facility operated by the Commonwealth with extremely limited capacity. In 2024, individuals committed to Torrance for competency restoration spent a median of 81 days in jail waiting for a bed. That waiting period added up to more than 13,000 jail bed days this year alone, often for people charged with low-level crimes: nearly half (49%) had only a misdemeanor as their highest charge. 'In spite of a class action settlement nearly a decade ago requiring the state to expand capacity, people still languish in jail waiting for treatment,' said Erin Dalton, Director of Allegheny County DHS. 'This community-based alternative allows us to restore people faster, avoid unnecessary incarceration, and use public dollars more wisely—all while treating people with dignity.' Developed in partnership with DHS, the Fifth Judicial District of PA and the ACJ, the MCRST is operated by Centurion Health, a DHS-contracted provider with more than 25 years of experience in correctional healthcare. The multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrist, mental health nurse, dual diagnosis therapist, certified forensic peer counselor, competency support specialist, and a Justice Related Services liaison to ensure coordination with the courts and community providers. 'We're proud to expand our existing programs in Pennsylvania to partner with the Fifth Judicial District and the Allegheny County Jail to bring this innovative model to life,' said Timothy Harlin, CEO of Centurion Health. 'The MCRST reflects our commitment to delivering compassionate, coordinated care that not only supports individuals through the legal process but also lays the foundation for long-term recovery and stability in the community.' 'We're happy to have another solution that can help individuals avoid incarceration and enjoy the benefits of community-based restoration,' said Holly Martin, ACJ Deputy Warden of Healthcare Services. Historically, around 125 individuals from Allegheny County have been committed to Torrance State Hospital each year for competency restoration. The MCRST gives courts a less restrictive, faster alternative – and gives individuals the care and respect they deserve. Witold Walczak, Legal Director, ACLU of Pennsylvania lauded the program, stating, 'As class counsel for people deemed incompetent to stand trial and waiting far too long to access competency treatment, the ACLU is pleased to hear about new alternatives that reduce the number of people who are detained. We have long advocated for community-based treatment for the many people who can and should be treated in the community, with strong supports to improve their chances of success.' The launch of the MCRST reflects Allegheny County's commitment to expanding behavioral health services and addressing the intersection of mental illness and the criminal-legal system with dignity, care and effectiveness. About Centurion Health Centurion Health is a leading national provider of medical, dental, behavioral health, and rehabilitative services to incarcerated and justice-involved persons. Our services go beyond patient care, helping advance the potential of the people we serve. Centurion Health is dedicated to correctional healthcare, a service that is provided for the health and well-being of persons in the justice system. For more information on Centurion Health, please visit Media Contact:Centurion Health: MediaInquiries@
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate Democrats: Detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay a threat to civil rights, military readiness
Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.) led a group of Democratic senators in writing a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against the mass detention of migrants at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, saying it poses a threat to civil rights and military readiness. The lawmakers highlighted past reports of mistreatment of detainees in facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expressing concerns over the treatment of migrants imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay. Democratic Sens. Chris Coons (Del.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (Md.) also signed the letter. 'We oppose placing U.S. military and DoD civilian personnel in the legally and morally tenuous position of conducting mass migrant detention operations. Our men and women in uniform are warfighters, not jailers of migrants,' the group wrote, referring to the Department of Defense (DOD). 'The dramatically expanded use of U.S. military personnel and facilities to support mass detention operations overseas will divert DoD personnel and resources from its core warfighting mission,' the letter added. According to a statement by Ossoff, he led an 18-month bipartisan investigation in 2022 that revealed women detainees in Georgia 'were subjected by a DHS-contracted doctor to excessive, invasive, and often unnecessary gynecological surgeries and procedures.' 'Given widespread and well-documented abuse of detainees in DHS and DHS-contracted facilities in the United States, we lack confidence that DHS political leadership has the will or capacity to conduct such detention operations at NS Guantánamo Bay humanely,' the senators said. The group sought specific information about Department of Defense operations at Guantánamo Bay, including the cost; how many DOD personnel will be diverted to provide security, or support for the operation; and which military units are involved. On Monday, another group of five Senate Democrats led by Sen. Dick Durbin (Ill.) sent a similar letter to President Trump challenging his transfer of migrants to detention centers in Guantánamo Bay. They called the move 'unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values and interests.' Last month, Trump signed a memo ordering the DOD and Department of Homeland Security to prepare a 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantánamo Bay, saying it would be used 'to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.' Guantánamo Bay has housed military prisoners, including several involved in the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. military prison is notorious for several accusations of torture and abuse during the war on terror. The Biden administration sought to wind down operations there, but the Trump administration is reversing that policy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
28-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Senate Democrats: Detaining migrants at Guantanamo Bay a threat to civil rights, military readiness
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) led a group of Democratic senators in writing a letter Friday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against the mass detention of migrants at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, saying it poses a threat to civil rights and military readiness. The lawmakers highlighted past reports of mistreatment of detainees in facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expressing concerns over the treatment of migrants imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) also signed the letter. 'We oppose placing U.S. military and DoD civilian personnel in the legally and morally tenuous position of conducting mass migrant detention operations. Our men and women in uniform are warfighters, not jailers of migrants,' the group wrote. 'The dramatically expanded use of U.S. military personnel and facilities to support mass detention operations overseas will divert DoD personnel and resources from its core warfighting mission,' the letter added. According to a statement by Ossoff, he led an 18-month bipartisan investigation in 2022 that revealed that women detainees in Georgia 'were subjected by a DHS-contracted doctor to excessive, invasive, and often unnecessary gynecological surgeries and procedures.' 'Given widespread and well-documented abuse of detainees in DHS and DHS-contracted facilities in the United States, we lack confidence that DHS political leadership has the will or capacity to conduct such detention operations at NS Guantánamo Bay humanely,' the senators said. The group sought specific information about the Department of Defense (DoD) operations at Guantánamo Bay, including the cost; how many DoD personnel will be diverted to provide security, or support for the operation; and which military units are involved. On Monday, another group of five Senate Democrats led by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a similar letter to President Trump challenging his transfer of migrants to detention centers in Guantánamo Bay. They called the move 'unprecedented, unlawful, and harmful to American national security, values and interests.' Last month, Trump signed a memo ordering the DoD and Department of Homeland Security to prepare a 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantánamo Bay, saying it would be used 'to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.' Guantánamo Bay has housed military prisoners, including several involved in the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. military prison is notorious for several accusations of torture and abuse during the war on terror. The Biden administration sought to wind down operations there, but the Trump administration is reversing that policy.
