Van Hollen, Markey, Gillibrand, and Warren Push DHS to Investigate Allegations of Abuse of Detained Cameroonians

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have sent a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari to immediately open an investigation into the physical abuse of Cameroonian detainees held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Recent reports have alleged that unlawful coercion tactics are being used to force detainees to agree to deportation while in ICE custody. This letter follows Senator Van Hollen’s previous letters to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, urging the Administration to halt deportation actions on Cameroonian asylum-seekers until violence in Cameroon has abated.

“We write to request an immediate investigation into reports of physical abuse of detained people of Cameroonian origin in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for the purpose of unlawfully coercing them to sign deportation orders. These allegations assert that ICE and contract employees used pepper spray, physical restraints, and other coercive measures to obtain the signatures and fingerprints of detainees on travel documents for their removal from the United States,” wrote the Senators.

The Senators continued, “Our offices have received a deluge of calls from community members, legal advocates, and individuals from around the country who are desperately worried about the potential fate of these asylum-seekers. These people sought asylum in the United States because they were fleeing a violent and dangerous conflict that is still ongoing. They are targets of government forces and armed separatist groups and their lives will be at risk if they are deported.”

The Senators stressed the violence and danger awaiting those who have been displaced, noting, “Roughly 700,000 people have been displaced and several thousand have been killed since the conflict in Cameroon began, with over 3.9 million in desperate need of humanitarian support. ICE detainees who would be returned to Cameroon face a high risk of being detained, beaten, disappeared, tortured, or killed. The use of coercion to force detainees to sign deportation orders against their will, to deport them to a country where they face a high risk of torture or death, is unconscionable.”

The Senators closed the letter by urging the Administration to respond to these allegations, writing, “Several of us have written separately to Acting Secretary Wolf urging the Department to halt the deportation of Cameroonian asylum-seekers. We now urge you to investigate these allegations of abuse. We look forward to your prompt response.” 

The full text of the letter is available here and below.   

Dear Dr. Cuffari:

We write to request an immediate investigation into reports of physical abuse of detained people of Cameroonian origin in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for the purpose of unlawfully coercing them to sign deportation orders. These allegations assert that ICE and contract employees used pepper spray, physical restraints, and other coercive measures to obtain the signatures and fingerprints of detainees on travel documents for their removal from the United States. We share the deep concerns of our colleagues in the House of Representatives who have contacted you on this matter.

Our offices have received a deluge of calls from community members, legal advocates, and individuals from around the country who are desperately worried about the potential fate of these asylum-seekers. These people sought asylum in the United States because they were fleeing a violent and dangerous conflict that is still ongoing. They are targets of government forces and armed separatist groups and their lives will be at risk if they are deported.

Roughly 700,000 people have been displaced and several thousand have been killed since the conflict in Cameroon began, with over 3.9 million in desperate need of humanitarian support. ICE detainees who would be returned to Cameroon face a high risk of being detained, beaten, disappeared, tortured, or killed. The use of coercion to force detainees to sign deportation orders against their will, to deport them to a country where they face a high risk of torture or death, is unconscionable. 

Several of us have written separately to Acting Secretary Wolf urging the Department to halt the deportation of Cameroonian asylum-seekers. We now urge you to investigate these allegations of abuse. We look forward to your prompt response. 

Sincerely,