An ICE official from Long Island acknowledged in court that he had provided false information about detainees after reviewing surveillance footage and spotting discrepancies from what agents had reported.
John Diaz, a senior official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, expressed remorse for submitting misleading details regarding the treatment of immigrants at the Central Islip Federal Courthouse, a detention center located in Suffolk County. This admission was part of a letter he sent on January 24 to U.S. District Judge Gary Brown, who was appointed by Trump.
Diaz admitted in his correspondence, “I recognize that the court rightfully identified numerous mistakes in my report,” attributing these blunders to “data entry errors.” He explained that he regretted these inaccuracies and acknowledged that his declaration did not meet the professional standards he aimed for. He assured the court that the mistakes were not intentional.
In his letter, Diaz pointed out that ICE’s internal records were incorrect and inconsistent with the footage he reviewed, prompting him to review the surveillance to gather accurate information.
“My declaration conveyed the right information based on what I saw. Yet, the electronic database contained inaccuracies,” Diaz noted.
This letter was a response to Judge Brown’s earlier reprimand directed at ICE for their disrespect of conditions in court detention facilities. Reports indicated that detainees were being held overnight in cramped quarters with no access to restrooms, bedding, and constant lighting.
Judge Brown characterized these conditions as “corrupt” and described filings submitted by authorities as “patently false,” accusing them of subjecting detainees to “inhumane and illegal” treatment.
Diaz clarified that the agency’s errors stemmed from incorrect booking data submitted to the court concerning the details of detainee detention and release times.
Additionally, another letter to the judge full of the agency’s commitments outlined significant changes at the Central Islip holding facility, which included setting limits on the number of detainees, imposing a 12-hour cap on detention, ensuring that no more than two individuals could occupy a detention cell, and guaranteeing essential services like food, water, hygiene supplies, and telephone access.
ICE also asserted it would distribute written notices to detainees highlighting their rights, including the right to legal representation, alongside the provision of extra food, water, clothing, and personal hygiene products upon request.
Furthermore, officials pledged to form a specialized habeas response team and deploy field attorneys to rectify incomplete detention records and ensure swift adherence to accurate court orders, as stated in court documents.
Shortly thereafter, Judge Brown ordered the reopening of the lawsuit to the public, indicating that the court seemed satisfied with ICE’s responses, having previously sealed the matter from public view.
