The New York Times recently reported on the New York Department of Correction’s Rikers Island policy of routinely singling out inmates believed to be foreign nationals and providing a list of suspected foreign nationals to immigration authorities. Although this policy probably appears to be appropriate and justified by many observers, the New York Times’ report suggests that there are certain parts of the policy that are rather disturbing, including not informing the inmates of their possible right to counsel during questioning by ICE officials and no regulations requiring the use of an interpreter.
Of the 105000 inmates at Rikers Island each year, about 3200 inmates have an immigration detainer placed on them.