From The San Francisco Standard · · 1m
Schiff warns SFO detention center harms families
Sen. Schiff says SFO airport holds immigrants without family contact for days.
In brief
Sen. Schiff says SFO airport holds immigrants without family contact for days. Sen. Adam Schiff warns that detainees at San Francisco International Airport cannot call family or attorneys, risking trauma. Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard.
Schiff visits SFO detention center
Sen. Adam Schiff visited a Customs and Border Patrol facility at San Francisco International Airport Tuesday.
“It’s not meaningful to get a list of attorneys if you can’t call them”
Detainees unable to contact family
Schiff said those held at the airport facility cannot call family members or attorneys themselves.
“They go through that trauma, separated from family and being terrified”
Lawful residents detained
Schiff noted lawful permanent U.S. residents are detained without access to family for hours or days.
“they’re sort of just at the whim of what CBP is doing, and they have no recourse”
SFO facility conditions
The holding room at SFO, called the 'in-transit lounge,' has showers and reclining chairs but is not for long-term detention.
“Schiff says the detention facility at SFO was renovated in July”
CBP policy violations
Schiff said the facility violates CBP policy by detaining green-card holders longer than 72 hours.
“They go through that trauma, separated from family and being terrified”
Family trauma risks
Detainees fear family members will be asked to call Customs and Border Patrol after leaving messages.
“Or they leave a message, and people are afraid to return the call because they’re being asked to call Customs and Border Patrol”
What it means
Sen. Adam Schiff warns that detainees at San Francisco International Airport cannot call family or attorneys, risking trauma.
