"Arresting people and putting them under your custody is one of the most serious ways that the state can intervene in someone's life. To do so comes with some obligations, namely the conditions of the custody have to be humane. And while there have been some gross examples of that duty not being held ( see Alligator Alcatraz), the smaller breaks in responsibility are worth correcting too."
"When a 22-year-old woman in immigration custody took the witness stand Monday and said she hadn't had anything to eat since she was rousted at 2 a.m. for the drive from a detention center in Tacoma to federal court in Eugene, the judge immediately halted the hearing. "OK, that's unacceptable," U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken said about eight minutes into the 9:30 a.m. hearing. Aiken said she wouldn't continue until federal officers fed her."
"Aiken said she wouldn't continue until federal officers fed her. The judge even offered up her own lunch so the woman wouldn't go hungry. Small gestures can make a world of difference when it comes to honoring human dignity - making sure someone has had something to eat that day is one of them. 'Absolutely Appalled': Judge Blasts ICE For Failing To Feed Detainee Before Court [Oregon Live]"
Arresting someone and placing them in custody is a significant state intervention that carries an obligation to provide humane conditions. A 22-year-old immigration detainee reported she had not eaten since being rousted at 2 a.m. for a bus transfer from a Tacoma detention center to federal court in Eugene. A U.S. district judge halted the hearing, called the situation unacceptable, and refused to proceed until federal officers provided food, even offering her own lunch. Denying basic sustenance during court proceedings undermines human dignity. Small gestures like ensuring a detainee has eaten demonstrate respect for basic rights and custodial responsibilities.
Read at Above the Law
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