Federal agents arrested immigrants across Los Angeles, placing detainees, including families, in poor conditions without enough food and water. Lawyers from the Immigrant Defenders Law Center report that one family of five, including three small children, was confined for 48 hours with minimal rations, facing inadequate water and uncomfortable temperatures. Separate quarters for women and families were not provided, leading to makeshift arrangements. These conditions were only revealed after the families were transferred to a family detention center in Texas, as communication with lawyers was restricted during the raids.
Agents told the family they did not have any water to provide during the family's first day in detention; on the second day, all five were given a single bottle to share.
Because it was primarily men held in these facilities, they didn't have separate quarters for families or for women, said Yliana Johansen-Mendez, chief program officer at ImmDef.
Clients explained that eventually they set up a makeshift tent in an outside area to house the women and children.
Lawyers, who had been largely blocked from communicating with immigrants arrested amid the ramped-up raids in LA, said family members were able to recount the ordeal only after they were moved out of state.
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