Somalis allege ‘inhumane conditions and egregious abuse’ in deportation attempt

Over 90 Somali immigrants were subject to inhumane conditions during a failed deportation attempt earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a class action lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday by seven plaintiffs, claims 92 Somali immigrants were subject “to inhumane conditions and egregious abuse” during a failed effort by ICE to deport them to Somalia on Dec. 7. 

The men and women were allegedly forced to sit bound and shackled on an ICE-chartered plane in Louisiana for nearly two days.

{mosads}The flight made it as far as Dakar, Senegal, where the immigrants sat on the runway at the airport for 23 hours.

The lawsuit alleges that when the plane’s toilets overflowed, the passengers could only urinate in their seats or in bottles.

ICE agents also allegedly “kicked, struck, or dragged” passengers down the aisle of the plane, in addition to subjecting others to threats and verbal abuse.

Agents flew the passengers back to the U.S. on Dec. 9, and transported them to two of its detention centers in South Florida.

ICE Deputy Director Tom Homan said in a statement to The Hill that the lawsuit ignores that the detainees were lawfully ordered to be removed from the U.S.

“I am troubled by this order, which appears to ignore the fact that all of these aliens were lawfully ordered removed from the U.S. after full and fair proceedings. Further, this order hinders ICE’s efforts to address the clear public safety threat posed by these aliens — the vast majority of whom have criminal convictions, including some with convictions for murder, rape, aggravated assault, and sexual assault,” Homan said.

“ICE has a sworn duty to enforce our immigration laws and protect the safety and security of Americans, and this misguided court order impedes the fulfillment of our lawful mission.”

In an earlier statement to CNN, ICE said the plane was forced to return to the U.S. due to logistical issues.

“The aircraft, including the detainees and crew on board, remained parked at the airport to allow the relief crew time to rest. During this time, the aircraft maintained power and air conditioning, and was stocked with sufficient food and water,” ICE said.

A judge has since filed a temporary stay blocking the Somali immigrants in the case from being deported and required that ICE give medical attention to those who were injured.

– This story was updated at 4:55 p.m.