Solitary Confinement in the ICE Detention System

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for the detention of approximately 400,000 persons each year. The use of solitary confinement within ICE detention facilities represents an important health concern because of the vulnerability of patients who find themselves in solitary confinement, and the potential for rapid deterioration of medical and mental health status once placed in these settings. Because some aspects of mental health and medical screening are conducted by security staff in the Ice detention system, detainees may be reluctant to report health concerns that left untreated, may contribute to rules infractions, leading to solitary confinement. We recommend that ICE prohibit the routine use of solitary confinement as a punishment of detainees, ensure training on basic mental health and cultural competency issues for all security staff and establish central tracking of solitary confinement and health-related concerns.