A Legal Aid client who was in ICE detention – one of the thousands detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the coronavirus pandemic – is featured in a new Huffington Post piece that explores the dangers of continually detaining immigrants in the COVID-19 era.

Antony, a 35-year-old, immunocompromised immigrant born with sickle cell anemia, was held in one of the infamous New Jersey detention centers where a lack of room for social distancing, a lack of proper medical attention and guards who might bring the virus in or carry it out were just some of the dangers that cause him to fear for his life.

By February, lawyers at The Legal Aid Society had taken on Antony’s case successfully advocating for his release due to his medical condition. While Antony was released to return to his family, thousands continue to be detained in detention centers across the nation.

“ICE has endangered the lives of our clients and others in their jails by making the indefensible choice to detain them during this pandemic,” said Katherine Kim, Supervising Attorney of Legal Aid’s Immigration Law Unit. “They have a clear track record of failing to provide adequate and appropriate medical care to people in detention, and we continue to be concerned for the health and well-being of our clients.”