Bring Immigration Detention Into Line With American Values

I write with grave concern about the wrongful detention of lawful permanent residents and even U.S. citizens at airports and ports of entry. Recent cases at Boston Logan International Airport, including those of Jemmy Jimenez Rosa and Fabian Schmidt, show how severe this crisis has become. Ms. Jimenez Rosa was held for ten days, denied medication, hospitalized twice, and released in the rain without a phone to reach her family. Mr. Schmidt spent two months in custody, subjected to harsh interrogation and medical neglect. These are not rare mistakes but systemic failures that strip people of dignity, health, and hope. Families wait in anguish, fearing loved ones will not survive government custody. Guarantee Immediate Access To Rights No one should disappear without contact. Yet detainees are cut off from family, unable to make a single call. Congress must require access to a phone, interpreter, and attorney within two hours. Bond hearings should occur within 48 hours, and detention must not exceed 72 hours without charges. Standards for medical care must guarantee uninterrupted prescriptions and emergency treatment. Close Loopholes That Block Justice The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operate with near impunity. Qualified immunity shields officers from lawsuits, and the Supreme Court’s decision in Egbert v. Boule closed courthouse doors further. Victims endure trauma yet cannot hold abusers accountable. Congress must restore a path to justice. Create A Compensation System For Victims Those wrongfully detained often emerge shattered—trembling, crying, unable to stand. Congress should establish an Immigration Wrongful Detention Compensation Fund awarding per diem damages, with higher payments when medical care or counsel is denied, and attorney’s fees for prevailing victims. Mandate Oversight And Transparency Abuse thrives in secrecy. DHS should publish quarterly data on detentions of lawful residents and citizens, including reasons, length, and outcomes. An independent oversight board with subpoena power must investigate conditions, review medical standards, and recommend discipline. Align With International Standards The United States must not tolerate practices resembling arbitrary detention condemned worldwide. Congress should align detention policies with international standards that safeguard basic human dignity and due process. Take Responsibility To Lead Reform I urge you to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation enacting these reforms, hold hearings with DHS, CBP, and ICE leadership, and order audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Inspectors General. Families should not suffer fear and illness because of government abuse. Only decisive congressional action will restore accountability, safety, and the rule of law.