ICE Transfers Add to Troubles at Metropolitan Detention Center Near Boro Park

By Y.M. Lowy

A federal jail just a short distance from Boro Park is under scrutiny after it began holding over 100 immigrant detainees. The Metropolitan Detention Center has a long history of reported poor conditions, and this new move is making a bad situation worse.

The detainees were brought in as part of a deal between immigration authorities and the Bureau of Prisons. But since their arrival, there have been more jail lockdowns and growing reports of unsafe conditions. Some of those immigrants being held have no criminal record at all.

U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman is urging the government to immediately stop sending more detainees to MDC. In a letter to federal officials, he warned that the jail is already overcrowded and understaffed.

MDC has faced years of criticism for its alleged harsh conditions, which include spoiled food, delayed medical treatment, and incidents of violence. Now that the jail is taking in even more people, advocates are questioning how it was approved for this role and whether any measures are being taken to address the ongoing issues.