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AnAmericanCitizen
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Immigration officials need court orders to forcibly drug detainees
New policy, which makes no exception for emergencies, follows a lawsuit by ACLU.
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 12, 2008
U.S. immigration officials will no longer sedate foreign nationals against their will
without a federal court order, according to an internal memo dated Jan. 9.
The government "may only involuntarily sedate an alien to facilitate removal where
the Government has obtained a court order . . . " the memo read. "There are no
exceptions to this policy. Emergency or exigent circumstances are not grounds for
departures from this policy."
The nationwide policy change, which took effect immediately, comes seven months after
the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the law firm Munger,
Tolles and Olson sued the government to stop the practice. The ACLU sued after
learning that immigration officials drugged two foreign nationals against their will
during failed attempts to deport them.
"We're very pleased that the government has finally agreed to stop forcibly drugging
people without court orders," ACLU attorney Ahilan Arulanantham said Friday. "It
appears that if the policy is implemented, the government will finally put a stop to
this shameful, barbaric chapter of our immigration history."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said in a written
statement Friday that the directive clarifies procedures implemented last year.
"The directive is consistent with ICE's commitment to maintain safe, secure, and
humane conditions for those in our custody," Kice said. "As always, medical sedation
will only be considered as a last resort, such as instances where a detainee has a
history of dangerous physical resistance to being removed. The decision to use
medication will be made and coordinated by healthcare professionals."
This is the second change to the government's policy since it became public. In June,
ICE amended the policy, but still allowed forced medication without a court order in
an emergency. This week's change, however, requires a court order every time
medication is to be given against a deportee's will.
Detained foreign nationals with medical or psychological problems who are being
transferred or removed are accompanied by medical escorts from the U.S. Public Health
Service. In the past, nurses or doctors sedated immigrants during deportation if they
had a psychiatric disorder, were severely agitated during a flight or presented a
danger to themselves or others. Medications commonly used are lorazepam, haloperidol,
olanzapine and benztropine.
ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers acknowledged in September during Senate testimony
that 56 deportees were administered psychotropic drugs between Oct. 1, 2006, and
April 30, 2007. Thirty-three did not have any history of psychological problems but
were given medication because of "combative behavior, with the imminent risk of
danger to others and/or self," she said.
Myers said at the time that policy prohibited the use of drugs during deportation
without a court order unless there was an emergency. "I am aware of, and deeply
concerned about reports that past practices may not have conformed to ICE detention
standards," she said.
The ACLU's two clients were medicated against their will in 2004 and 2006, according
to the men and medical files they said they obtained from immigration authorities.
Indonesian immigrant Raymond Soeoth was appealing his case for political asylum when
he was sedated with antipsychotic drugs in December 2004 at the Terminal Island
detention facility in San Pedro. Senegal immigrant Amadou Diouf, also pursuing an
appeal for permanent legal residency, was medicated in February 2006 while on a
commercial plane at Los Angeles International Airport.
Both Soeoth and Diouf have been released and are fighting to stay in the country.
Despite the change in policy, the ACLU plans to continue its lawsuit. The
organization still seeks compensation for Soeoth and Diouf. In addition, Arulanantham
said he wants the government to release more information about how long the sedation
policy existed and how many people were involuntarily medicated.
anna.gorman@latimes.com
New policy, which makes no exception for emergencies, follows a lawsuit by ACLU.
By Anna Gorman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 12, 2008
U.S. immigration officials will no longer sedate foreign nationals against their will
without a federal court order, according to an internal memo dated Jan. 9.
The government "may only involuntarily sedate an alien to facilitate removal where
the Government has obtained a court order . . . " the memo read. "There are no
exceptions to this policy. Emergency or exigent circumstances are not grounds for
departures from this policy."
The nationwide policy change, which took effect immediately, comes seven months after
the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the law firm Munger,
Tolles and Olson sued the government to stop the practice. The ACLU sued after
learning that immigration officials drugged two foreign nationals against their will
during failed attempts to deport them.
"We're very pleased that the government has finally agreed to stop forcibly drugging
people without court orders," ACLU attorney Ahilan Arulanantham said Friday. "It
appears that if the policy is implemented, the government will finally put a stop to
this shameful, barbaric chapter of our immigration history."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said in a written
statement Friday that the directive clarifies procedures implemented last year.
"The directive is consistent with ICE's commitment to maintain safe, secure, and
humane conditions for those in our custody," Kice said. "As always, medical sedation
will only be considered as a last resort, such as instances where a detainee has a
history of dangerous physical resistance to being removed. The decision to use
medication will be made and coordinated by healthcare professionals."
This is the second change to the government's policy since it became public. In June,
ICE amended the policy, but still allowed forced medication without a court order in
an emergency. This week's change, however, requires a court order every time
medication is to be given against a deportee's will.
Detained foreign nationals with medical or psychological problems who are being
transferred or removed are accompanied by medical escorts from the U.S. Public Health
Service. In the past, nurses or doctors sedated immigrants during deportation if they
had a psychiatric disorder, were severely agitated during a flight or presented a
danger to themselves or others. Medications commonly used are lorazepam, haloperidol,
olanzapine and benztropine.
ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers acknowledged in September during Senate testimony
that 56 deportees were administered psychotropic drugs between Oct. 1, 2006, and
April 30, 2007. Thirty-three did not have any history of psychological problems but
were given medication because of "combative behavior, with the imminent risk of
danger to others and/or self," she said.
Myers said at the time that policy prohibited the use of drugs during deportation
without a court order unless there was an emergency. "I am aware of, and deeply
concerned about reports that past practices may not have conformed to ICE detention
standards," she said.
The ACLU's two clients were medicated against their will in 2004 and 2006, according
to the men and medical files they said they obtained from immigration authorities.
Indonesian immigrant Raymond Soeoth was appealing his case for political asylum when
he was sedated with antipsychotic drugs in December 2004 at the Terminal Island
detention facility in San Pedro. Senegal immigrant Amadou Diouf, also pursuing an
appeal for permanent legal residency, was medicated in February 2006 while on a
commercial plane at Los Angeles International Airport.
Both Soeoth and Diouf have been released and are fighting to stay in the country.
Despite the change in policy, the ACLU plans to continue its lawsuit. The
organization still seeks compensation for Soeoth and Diouf. In addition, Arulanantham
said he wants the government to release more information about how long the sedation
policy existed and how many people were involuntarily medicated.
anna.gorman@latimes.com
