GAO-20-596, IMMIGRATION DETENTION: ICE Should Enhance Its Use of Facility Oversight Data and Management of Detainee Complaints

To determine the extent to which ICE and other DHS entities have mechanisms to oversee compliance with immigration detention facility standards, and how ICE uses the oversight information to address any identified deficiencies, we reviewed ICE documents, such as guidance and policies for conducting inspections and onsite monitoring. [...] Roles and Responsibilities Various ICE and DHS offices have roles and responsibilities for for Detention Facility overseeing ICE detention facilities and receiving and responding to Oversight and Detention- detention-related complaints. [...] The Office of Special Reviews and Evaluations conducts unannounced inspections of immigration detention facilities to evaluate the facilities against the ICE detention standards and evaluations of ICE detention programs. [...] The office conducted unannounced inspections of four detention facilities in fiscal year 2019 and issued a report with its findings and one recommendation related to field office oversight and compliance with detention standards.26 ICE then has the opportunity to respond to those recommendations and may take 26Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Capping Report: Observatio. [...] In our site visits, facility staff, field office officials, and Detention Services Managers at eight of the 10 facilities we visited stated that the effectiveness of the Detention Services Manager, and his or her ability to impact changes at the facility, are dependent on the Detention Services Manager’s personality and relationship with field office officials and facility staff.