Severely ill ICE detainees targeted for imminent deportation in Florida, advocates say

Relatives of severely ill detainees at two Florida immigration jails claim authorities are planning to deport them to unknown African countries despite their deteriorating health conditions. The Workers Circle, an immigration advocacy group, says multiple detainees with various medical issues have been targeted for imminent deportation, but the families learned about the operation only recently.

Arianne Betancourt, the group's immigrant rights organizer, revealed during a Tuesday press conference that immigrants have been called for interviews with deportation agents, told their medical conditions render them ineligible for entry into Mexico, and consequently sentenced to be sent to Africa. Both Krome North processing center in Miami and the Broward transitional center in Pompano Beach, where the affected detainees are held, are privately run facilities for ICE.

Anisley Cortés, whose husband Noslén Sendra is one of the affected detainees, detailed Sendra's severe health issues, including uncontrolled diabetes and acute pancreatitis, which he developed while incarcerated. Sendra's wife fears he may not survive the deportation due to lack of proper medical care. Immigration rights attorney Shalyn Fluharty stated that flights to Africa, specifically the Central African Republic and Burundi, are scheduled for this week.

The attorney warned that such travel could be life-threatening for detainees with heart conditions, diabetes, and other health issues. The Department of Homeland Security has refused to provide any information about the detained individuals, citing privacy concerns. Betancourt cautioned that families face retaliation for coming forward and speaking out against the conditions in the detention centers, which have been plagued by overcrowding and inadequate medical care.