The New York Times’ Nina Bernstein reports that between 2004 and 2007, 66 detained immigrants died under custody of the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Unlike prisons, ICE detention centers, some of which are privately-owned, have no procedures for detainees to exchange information with the outside world. The 66 deaths were uncovered due to Congress demanding the information from ICE.

Told through the wrenching story of Boubacar Bah, who died in a New Jersey detention center, it emerges that even family members are kept out of the loop. In the case of detainee Walter Rodriguez Castro, his wife showed up to immigration court only to learn that her husband had been dead for several weeks.  Read Bernstein here.  MB

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