Medical experts of the Department of Homeland Security have been advising Congress members to release all detained immigrants who do not pose a risk to public safety.
The two doctors have sent a letter warning lawmakers of the “imminent risk to the health and safety of immigrant detainees” and to the general public if the novel coronavirus spreads in ICE detention.
Dr. Scott Allen and Dr. Josiah Rich, who work as medical experts for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, have said that they’re “gravely concerned” about the risks of the COVID-19 virus, CNN reported.
“They are essentially the medical experts for DHS, who want to make sure they’re sounding the alarm and weighing in on this significant threat to public health,” said Dana Gold, senior counsel at the Government Accountability Project.
The organization, known for its work protecting whistleblowers, is representing the doctors and released their letter to CNN. The doctors are co-founders and co-directors of the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights.
“They are not speaking as DHS, but they are speaking in their capacity as medical experts for DHS who have a duty to warn,” Gold said.
The doctors could not immediately be reached for comment.
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