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Congresswoman Mejia confronted Secretary Mullin on whether ICE adequately tracks and monitors detainees with chronic illnesses, audits delays in medical care, allows independent health inspections—specifically by the State of New Jersey—protects detainees from retaliation for reporting concerns, and ensures that vulnerable individuals receive appropriate medical care while in custody.

For the transcript of the remarks, see below.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Thank you Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member Thompson. Secretary Mullen, you called our complaints about facilities like Delaney hall a hoax and have stated that detainees receive health care, three meals a day due process. But I will say that from dozens of conversations like my colleagues, Poe and McIver, that I have personally had with detainees and what I have witnessed at Delaney hall and at the Elizabeth Detention Center, I can say that I am horrified about the conditions that I that I am seeing, that I have witnessed in these facilities. The most shocking, to be honest, is the. What I would describe as medical abuse. I will say that I met detainees who complained about weaponized poor sanitation, spoiled food, specifically lack of medical care. And as it is related to their medication, a level of abuse that, frankly, is putting immigrants lives and detainees lives at risk. I will share that. I interviewed teenagers, pregnant mothers, the elderly, vulnerable people with chronic conditions. And here's what I heard: I met detainees who were given critical medication sporadically insulin, metformin, diabetes medication, other diabetes medication, high blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication, thyroid medication, hormonal medication, all medication that, if given sporadically, can in fact harm an individual's lives. I met detainees who not only were given their medication sporadically or had their dosages lowered without consultation of their doctors, but I met detainees who were not even made aware of what medication they were given, just handed a bunch of pills and not told what had changed and whether or not any additions had been made. I also met detainees with chronic health conditions that were not being treated at all, or if they were being treated insufficiently. So, sir, I'm going to make it easy. I would like to ask you a few yes or no questions since we're short on time. Again, questions. So first, do you audit how many detainees have chronic illnesses like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or any chronic disease? Yes or no?

Secretary Mullin: As I said before, we provide two times the medical personnel as the Penitentiary does.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Yes or no, because I'm short on time. So you do audit them.

Secretary Mullin: I didn’t say that. I don't know if we audit that specific issue.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Okay. So that's a no. Do you monitor the conditions of detainees as warranted and prescribed by their doctors and not not just by ice employees or contractors? Yes or no.

Secretary Mullin: Two times more medical staff than state penitentiary does per individual.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Do you monitor the conditions of detainees who have chronic conditions as prescribed by their doctors? Yes or no

Secretary Mullin: We provide two times in medical personnel.

Rep. Analilia Mejia:  Okay. I'm going to take that as a ‘I do not know’ the answer. Third question: detainees complain of health care treatment taking up to a week or more. Do you audit or track how long it takes between complaining about a health condition and the time it takes to receive care? Yes or no.

Secretary Mullin: In the state penitentiary, you have 48 hours.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: We're not talking about state penitentiary, sir. You do not oversee. I'm not speaking of state penitentiaries. I'm speaking of Delaney hall.

Secretary Mullin: Our standards pass and succeed your own standards.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Okay, so as I understand it, yet again, the answer is I don't know. Will you allow New Jersey's department of health to conduct full and routine inspections of all areas, including areas that have impact on the health of detainees and staff.

Secretary Mullin: Where they are legally able to go by state statute and the federal contract, we will allow them to enter, which is what they did the other day.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: So if the bathrooms pose a health threat, are they allowed to go inspect the bathrooms.

Secretary Mullin: As long as it's within their contracts and our state agreement that we have with that federal facility.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: So I am hearing that it's a yes that they should, Given that detainees…

Secretary Mullin: Where they are legally able to go based on the

Rep. Analilia Mejia: Okay, So again, I'm going to take that as a “I don't know.” Will you provide the state with the number of individuals that are detained, the number of seniors, pregnant women, individuals with chronic diseases like diabetes, congestive heart failure, hormonal conditions, cancer, or more

Secretary Mullin: What we are required to report, we will report. By the way, you made a statement about teenagers.

Rep. Analilia Mejia: I haven't finished. You can add in a moment. Will you institute a non, a no tolerance policy for retaliation against any detainee or staffer that is a whistleblower? Is that a no?

Chairman: The Gentleladies time is now expired.

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