Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
Producer Investigates Abuse Allegations in ICE Facilities
Clip: Season 2023 | 7m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Since 2021, PBS NewsHour producer Zeba Warsi has investigated sexual assault claims.
PBS NewsHour producer Zeba Warsi tells the stories of three migrant women who said they were sexually assaulted while in ICE detention.
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Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices is a local public television program presented by WTTW
Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices
Producer Investigates Abuse Allegations in ICE Facilities
Clip: Season 2023 | 7m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
PBS NewsHour producer Zeba Warsi tells the stories of three migrant women who said they were sexually assaulted while in ICE detention.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> WE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS IN IMMIGRATIONS CUSTOMS AND ENFORCEMENT FACILITIES.
THESE ARE ALSO KNOWN AS I.C.E.
DETENTION FACILITIES.
SHE TEAMED UP TO TELL THE STORIES OF THREE MIGRANT WOMEN WHO ALLEGE THEY WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED IN I.C.E.
DETENTION WHEN THEY WERE AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE, AND A MEDICAL SETTING.
HERE IS AN AUDIO EXCERPT FROM THE INVESTIGATION, TITLED IMMENSELY INVISIBLE.
>> SHE FOUND THAT HER EXPERIENCE IN I.C.E.
DETENTION WAS EVEN WORSE THAN PRISON.
>> YOU NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT SHARING A SHOWER OR NONE OF THAT.
>> SHE SAYS THAT THE BATHROOMS WERE OPEN AND SHE HEARD FROM OTHER WOMEN THAT THE GUARDS HAD A DIRECT VIEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE BATHROOM.
>> THEY WOULD SHADOW IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A MALE.
>> HOW OFTEN WOULD HAPPEN?
>> EVERY DAY.
>> JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS INVESTIGATION IS FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRODUCER FOR THE PBS NEWS HOUR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
WE JUST HEARD A CLIP FROM THE PODCAST.
WHAT HAS STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE?
>> MELISSA'S STORY IS VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT HOW THIS STORY IS UNFOLDING.
SHE HAS BEEN IN A DETENTION CENTER FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.
SHE WAS AT A FLORIDA FACILITY DETENTION CENTER .
IT WAS SEXUAL HARASSMENT, ALLEGED SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
AND THAT WAS THE PSYCHIATRIC DEPARTMENT , AND SHE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT VOYEURISM, OPEN SHOWERS >> NO.
CONTINUE.
WE ARE WITH YOU.
>> YOU HEARD HER TALK ABOUT THAT, IN THAT CLIP THAT YOU HAVE JUST SEEN.
AFTER SHE COMPLAINED, NOT MUCH WAS DONE ABOUT IT.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT STOOD OUT.
THAT , AND MANY MORE COMPLAINTS, ARE PUBLIC RECORDS AND THERE ARE OTHER TESTIMONIES FROM SURVIVORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A BIGGER DETENTION CENTER AND SHE FACED SIMILAR ABUSE.
ANGIE COMPLAINED AGAIN.
SHE WAS WARNED BY OFFICIALS, IF YOU KEEP REPORTING, YOU COULD FACE MORE RETALIATION.
>> YOU ARE FOCUSING ON SEVERAL WOMEN, BUT HOW WIDESPREAD MIGHT THIS BE?
THESE INSTANCES OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS, VOYEURISM, AND SO FORTH?
>> THAT IS WHAT REALLY STANDS OUT IN THIS INVESTIGATION.
THIS IS NOT JUST THE STORY OF MELISSA, VIVIANA, OR MARIA.
THIS IS WHAT REALLY COMES ACROSS, AFTER HAVING EXAMINED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT ISOLATED TO ONE FACILITY OR ONE CITY.
IT HAS EMERGED SYSTEMICALLY IN OUR INVESTIGATION.
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SUBJECT FOUND, AFTER SO MANY YEARS -- NOT CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO CHANGE.
>> AS YOU MAY KNOW, IN CHICAGO, THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, COPA, IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER OR NOT POLICE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MIGRANTS SLEEPING IN POLICE SHELTERS.
WHAT MAKES MIGRANTS SO INVISIBLE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS?
>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
IN OUR INVESTIGATION, AS WELL, EXAMINING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED IN 2021 IN I.C.E.
FACILITIES, THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS WERE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST I.C.E.
GUARDS , EMPLOYEES, PRISON OFFICERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE POSITION OF POWER, WHO WERE MEANT TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE IN A DETENTION CENTER.
AND THESE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST THEM.
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY REALLY COMES TO THE FORE.
THEY DO NOT ENJOY THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF MOST AMERICANS.
IMMIGRANTS IN I.C.E.
FACILITIES DO NOT HAVE THOSE RIGHTS.
THEY ARE IN THESE FACILITIES, FAR OFF FROM RELATIVES OR FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT IS NOT EASY FOR AID TO REACH THEM.
THAT COMPLICATES THE PROBLEM EVEN MORE.
IT LEADS TO ABUSE, AND WHEN THEY DO COMPLAIN, THE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED.
>> SO, HOW IS I.C.E.
REACTING TO THESE COMPLAINTS?
>> I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH I.C.E.
SINCE 2021 AND I HAVE BEEN ASKING THEM TO REVIEW THESE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE THEM UP IN OUR BEST INVESTIGATIONS.
THEY HAVE QUOTE- UNQUOTE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY TO SEXUAL ABUSE.
BUT IN TESTIMONIES AND INTERVIEWS THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, A DOZEN SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING SIMILAR ALLEGATIONS.
WE DO BELIEVE THERE IS A PATTERN OF ABUSE IN DETENTION.
THERE ARE PATTERNS OF INVASIVE PATDOWN SEARCHES, TOUCHING OF GENITALS, GROPING.
THESE COMPLAINTS ARE ALL SIMILAR.
I.C.E.
HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO THESE SECTIONS.
IT IS A PROBLEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT STILL REMAINS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
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Chicago Tonight: Latino Voices is a local public television program presented by WTTW