DeepSummary
The episode begins with a content warning about discussions of suicide and the use of a homophobic slur. It then delves into Pogo's investigation into reports from experts contracted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to inspect conditions at the Adelanto Detention Center run by ICE. These reports found disturbing levels of solitary confinement being used at the facility, including on detainees with mental illness, as well as inadequate medical care that resulted in injuries and deaths.
The episode also features the firsthand account of Berto Hernandez, a non-binary individual who was detained at Adelanto in 2019. Berto recounts the dehumanizing experience of being detained, the poor sanitary conditions that impacted their health, and a guard using a homophobic slur towards them. Berto fought for their release by representing themselves and seeking legal aid, driven by a desire to help other detainees.
Despite the damning findings in the expert reports and DHS's own Office of Inspector General also finding egregious issues at Adelanto, ICE appeared to largely disregard the problems. The episode highlights the difficulty in obtaining records from DHS through FOIA requests, and sets up Pogo's ongoing legal battle to access additional expert reports on conditions at other ICE detention facilities.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Expert reports commissioned by DHS found shocking levels of abuse and neglect at the Adelanto immigration detention facility, including excessive use of solitary confinement and inadequate medical care.
- A firsthand account from a former Adelanto detainee, Berto Hernandez, recounts the dehumanizing conditions, poor sanitation impacting their health, and discrimination they faced.
- Despite the expert findings and a separate OIG report corroborating the issues, ICE appeared to largely disregard the problems and failed to adequately address them.
- Obtaining records and information from DHS through FOIA requests is extremely difficult, with the agency continuously obstructing Pogo's efforts to gain access to additional expert reports on detention facility conditions.
- The episode highlights the lack of accountability and oversight allowing human rights violations and deplorable conditions to persist in ICE's detention system.
- Berto's resilience in fighting for their release and desire to help fellow detainees demonstrates the strength of human spirit in the face of injustice.
- The use of solitary confinement, a practice amounting to torture, is rampantly overused in ICE detention, especially against vulnerable detainees with mental illness.
- There appears to be a systemic culture of abuse, discrimination, and dehumanization towards immigration detainees within ICE's detention facilities.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I remember when I got telling my holding tale, the person that was there, he was like, oh, yeah, I know. You're gay, right? Don't worry. Like, cry. You're gonna be okay. Like, and I remember that he told me that I just began crying even more. He's like, you can cry, and it's okay. I was like, I don't know what to do. And it was like, no, no, you're gonna be fine. You're gonna be fine.“ by Berto Hernandez
- “They were withering in their criticism.“ by Nick Schwellenbach
Entities
Organization
Person
Location
Company
Product
Episode Information
Bad Watchdog
Project On Government Oversight
6/27/24