Watch CBS News

City Council Investigates Allegations Of Abuse At Immigration Detention Centers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A City Council hearing is focusing on privately operated immigration detention centers accused of abuse and brutality.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio calls the treatment of immigrants held in city detention centers run by the Geo Group a ticking time bomb.

"We only know one thing, that Geo Group has a horrible track record," De Blasio said. "So much so that other governments have told them they could not operate in their nation."

Council Member Daniel Dromm said he has received several reports about abuses in the privately run detention centers.

"It's unbelieveable that over half the detention centers in the United States of America are privately run detention centers and therefor are not subject to the same oversight that publicly run centers are," Drumm said. "This concerns us greatly."

De Blasio claims the facilities have a history of abuses ranging from riots to mistreatment of prisoners.

"At a certain point, how do you let this continue? And why the silence from our government and why is Geo Group not giving us answers?" De Blasio said. "It makes me think they have something to hide."

 

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.