Of the ten largest detention centers of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), four prohibit visits with physical contact between detainees and their family members. This policy, which includes the prohibition of hugs, has been applied in some of the main immigrant detention facilities in the United States.
The measure has been the target of criticism from family members of detainees, lawyers and human rights organizations. These groups consider that the prohibition of physical contact represents a form of inhumane treatment and harms the family bonds of detained immigrants.
ICE, the agency responsible for immigration enforcement in the US, has not officially commented on the policy as of the time of publication of the article.
