Judge Orders Border Patrol to Improve Conditions in Holding Cells

November 18, 2016
(Photo courtesy U.S. District Court Tucson)
Migrants awaiting processing wrap themselves in Mylar blankets provided by the agency to keep warm.

Among the conditions imposed by a federal judge in Tucson, the Border Patrol must provide a mat and a Mylar blanket to all immigrant detainees held longer than 12 hours. 

The agency must also ensure that those immigrants be allowed to wash or clean themselves.

Finally, the agency must ensure toilets and sinks are in working conditions and monitor its cell temperatures, a notorious issue with Border patrol holding cells.

Immigrants often refer to the cells as hieleras or freezers for their cold temperatures.

The lawsuit was filed last year by human rights groups and in a 29-page order, the judge agreed that the agency was not meeting "basic human needs" of immigrants in detention throughout Arizona.