From Persecution to Prison - Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of ...

icy, detainees are transported in handcuffs and/or leg shackles, which areoften left on for the duration of the doctor’s examination/treatment.One female detainee who reported that she had been raped four daysbefore arrival in the US and had abdominal discomfort, was brought to alocal hospital for evaluation.When I arrived here I was sick, I was feeling pain in my stomach, and Icouldn’t stand erect. So they took me to the hospital. But they handcuffedmy hands and legs. They used a rope to tie me. I felt very frightened.One detainee, a woman, had been hit on the head before fleeing hercountry. She subsequently had headaches and dizziness. The detention centerdoctor referred her to a local hospital to see an eye doctor. She reportsthe eye doctor did not talk with her but just gave a report to the guards.It’s very bad, you are brought to the doctor in chains. You’re at a bighospital and everyone is looking. You’re in chains and in pain. Theychain you both at your feet and hands, and it’s very uncomfortable.Medical Parole Requests Frequently DeniedAccording to legal representatives of detained asylum seekers, medicalparole is only given in rare instances. Detention facility medical staff areapparently involved in the process of making recommendations for medicalparole. One detainee who had experienced torture in his country oforigin, including severe beatings, suffered from severe pain all over hisbody and significant symptoms of anxiety and depression. Nevertheless,his request for medical parole was denied.My lawyer applied for medical parole for me. He gave the application tomy deportation officer. After the parole application came to my deportationofficer the doctor called me. [The doctor] said ‘how about yourhealth?’ I said the same thing – general pain. [The doctor] said ‘but youdon’t have Tuberculosis (TB).’ I say I don’t know. He says ‘OK, youdon’t have TB, go back to your dorm.’ I asked him for pain medicineand he gave me some pain medicine.After three days my lawyer came and saw me here – he said, ‘the deportationofficer told me you don’t have TB, so they deny your parole.’That’s it. I think just because I don’t have TB doesn’t mean I’m healthy– I have a lot of problems. I know I don’t have good health. The doctorsaw my parole officer and told him I don’t have TB. Only someone whohas TB needs to be paroled. Here in the detention center if the lawyermake a parole application for you – only if the doctor said you don’thave good health will you make parole.PHYSICAL HEALTH, MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND MEDICAL CARE 103