GOSHEN, N.Y. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released new data earlier this week that shows Orange County Jail leads New York with the longest average length of stay of 47 days compared to other facilities across the state.
The average length of stay in detention facilities varies widely, according to the federal data. For instance, an individual is detained an average of 38 days at the Buffalo Service Processing Center in Batavia, compared to an average of two days at Nassau County Correctional Center in Long Island.
Significant evidence suggests that the longer a person is detained in an immigration detention facility, the more likely they are to face negative health impacts, including mental health issues and PTSD symptoms. A study from UC Berkeley reveals that individuals who faced longer detentions had higher rates of poor self-rated health, mental illness, and PTSD.
Advocates have long called for Orange County Jail to end its contract with ICE. Orange County Jail has served as an immigration detention facility in Goshen, New York since 2008. Under New York’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act – which Governor Kathy Hochul passed as part of this year’s state budget – local correctional facilities housing ICE detainees must void any agreements with ICE effective August 25.
READ: Activists Push to End Orange County ICE Contract Amid Federal Lease Deal
As that deadline approaches, questions remain about a separate federal lease agreement in Newburgh that some records suggest could be connected to ICE operations.
New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and GSA Administrator Edward Forst on Wednesday demanding answers on the newly leased warehouse in Newburgh about 20 miles from Orange County Jail.
The federal government awarded a 15-year lease for $35.57 million to a Texas-based contractor Leverage Enterprises in June, with some federal records suggesting it could be for ICE operations. The warehouse requires space for government vehicles, including “detainee buses and vans,” 24/7 government access, and an emergency power generator.
READ: Federal Government Leases Newburgh Warehouse for $35.5 Million, Records Suggest ICE Activity
ICE and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Radio Catskill’s request for comment.
Image: Exterior signage of the Orange County Jail in Goshen, N.Y. (Photo Credit: Kimberly Izar)