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

This subject was himself threatened with segregation on one occasion,while eating. “We take dinner early, like 5 p.m., and sometimes, since weeat early, we divide the meal – eat part now and save the rest for later. Theguards threatened me, if I save food they will put me in segregation.”Perhaps most disturbing were several reports of vengeful action takenagainst asylum seekers who either invoked their rights or had a legitimatecomplaint. Said one asylum seeker:If you say anything about “my rights” or ask for something, theythreaten segregation and often do it,Another asylum seeker reported that, for reasons unexplained, the staffdecided to “break up” those living in one detention center dormitory. Afriend of his asked why they wanted to move him. “That was all he said.He didn’t yell. For that – they took him to segregation for one week.”Another asylum seeker said:I was threatened with segregation, when I wanted to see the doctor formy toothache and was being insistent.In another incident, several detainees voiced concern over the detentioncenter staff’s delay in responding to a sick cellmate’s calls for help.We dorm-mates called six times in one day and no one came. So the sickguy took a bunch of medications, saying, ‘I want to die instead.’ So then[the guards] came and took him to segregation!…and they...took the leadguy, who complained about the tardiness, and put him in segregation.And they threatened the rest of us with segregation if we didn’t shut up.The same detainee reports that he was also threatened with segregationwhen he demanded an explanation of his medical treatment.The nurse tried to change my medication and I said the doctor told meto do something else. So I refused. [The nurse] insisted. I said, ‘Let mesign a document refusing medication.’ [The nurse] was screaming, andwas so angry, and then [the nurse] called the guards. They came andthey threatened me with segregation if I didn’t take the pill. But then,they took me back to my cell… And I was able to wait for the doctor,who explained the situation to me, and I then changed the medication.They use segregation threats to intimidate you and keep you quiet.Other detainees complained that, at times, individuals who could notspeak English were forced into solitary confinement without being giventhe chance to explain themselves after an incident. One asylum seekercomplained,There are times when people who can’t speak English well becomeupset; the guards come, and if the guy can’t speak English well and getsagitated he will be sent to segregation, without a translator to help.118 FROM PERSECUTION TO PRISON