WASHINGTON, D.C. - American Bar Association President William H. Neukom Wednesday urged Congress to adopt the Detainee Basic Medical Care Act, H.R. 5950, which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish procedures for timely and effective delivery of medical and mental health care to all immigration detainees. He cited problems for immigrants detained in local facilities around the country including delayed treatment or access to medications, dental complaints, unsanitary conditions, insufficient food, food not meeting medical diet needs, and lack of information about grievance procedures.

Neukom also urged the Department of Homeland Security to adopt as enforceable regulations Immigration and Customs Enforcement National Detention Standards, and urged improved oversight of implementation of the standards, including in-depth training on the standards for all persons who supervise, are responsible for or otherwise have regular contact with immigration detainees. Neukom submitted a written statement to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, available at http://www.abanet.org/poladv/letters/ immigration/2008jun04_medcareh_t.pdf.

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