Cuban Immigrant Alleges Harsh Deportation Amid Hunger Strike
A Cuban immigrant detained in a New Mexico facility is claiming that U.S. immigration authorities hastily deported him while he was on a hunger strike. Rogelio Bolfe, 44, has been housed at the Torrance County Detention Center in Estancia since August and has consistently raised concerns regarding the facility’s conditions. He mobilized fellow detainees to protest what they perceive as unsafe conditions, including issues related to access to legal resources, water quality, and potential constitutional violations.
Details of the Hunger Strike
Bolfe initiated his hunger strike about ten days ago, following incidents in which staff from CoreCivic, the private operator of the detention center, allegedly confiscated vital legal documents, including a draft complaint against CoreCivic and an immigration court in Chaparral, New Mexico.
Official Response and Legal Developments
A spokesperson for CoreCivic, Brian Todd, refuted Bolfe’s claims about the confiscation of legal records, labeling them as “patently false.” In light of recent events, CoreCivic and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are seeking to maintain a contract to house approximately 325 detainees, despite a new state law prohibiting public entities from engaging in such contracts. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit alongside a preliminary injunction against New Mexico concerning this law, as well as an Albuquerque ordinance that restricts federal immigration officials from accessing specific public spaces.
Forced Transfers and Living Conditions
On Tuesday, Bolfe reported being taken from his cell to the Albuquerque ICE field office, and within 48 hours, he was transferred to Camp East Montana, an ICE facility in Fort Bliss, Texas. His journey continued through various detention centers in Alabama and Mesa, Arizona, before reaching Washington state. Throughout this ordeal, he claims he was denied medical treatment for his chronic migraines and was forced to sleep on cold floors alongside other detainees.
Concerns Over Overcrowding
The temporary ICE detention facility at Mesa Airport has faced growing scrutiny from lawmakers due to overcrowding, with three officials condemning the conditions as “shocking.” Reports indicate that around 250 detainees are crammed into an inadequate space that restricts their ability to lie down. “We’re all lying on the floor. Some of us have been here for three days. Just imagine,” Bolfe remarked in an interview before his transfer to Washington.
Legal Battles and Ongoing Struggles
Bolfe asserts that the treatment he’s received is a form of retaliation for voicing complaints, highlighting issues related to his First Amendment rights. After being moved to Washington, he found himself in a solitary confinement cell, with limited information about his exact location. Ian Philabaum, program director for the Innovation Law Lab, which provides legal visits to detainees, expressed concern over Bolfe’s treatment, suggesting that officials are attempting to coerce him into ending his hunger strike.
Seeking Justice in a Complex System
Bolfe is currently pursuing a green card under the Cuba Adjustment Act of 1966, which offers a path to permanent residency for Cuban nationals. He is appealing the deportation order and has filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge what he claims is his unlawful detention. Initially arrested in Miami on drug charges, which were later dropped, he has since been transferred from the notorious ICE facility known as Alligator Alcatraz in the Florida Everglades.
A Call for Change
Throughout his hunger strike, Bolfe reported losing 25 pounds and stated he will continue until he sees CoreCivic in court and ICE halts what he describes as a “racist and illegal investigation.” “This hunger strike is for everyone,” he stressed. “It’s time for those with a conscience to put an end to this humiliation.” His determination underscores the broader issues of treatment and rights within the immigration detention system.
