WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A U.S. federal auditor has reported finding mistreatment of suspected illegal immigrants at five jails and prisons across the country.
The Department of Homeland Security inspector general's report said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and contractors denied timely medical treatment to some of the immigrants, failed to disclose and justify disciplinary actions and improperly limited access to relatives, lawyers and immigration authorities.
The report also said prisoners were fed undercooked food, and detention officers violated health and safety rules by neglecting to monitor prisoners on hunger strikes or suicide watches, the Washington Post reported.
The audit covered the U.S.-owned and operated Krome facility in Miami, a contract Corrections Corp. of America facility in San Diego, and local jails and prisons in Berks County, Pa., and Hudson and Passaic counties, N.J.
In a written response Homeland Assistant Secretary Julie Myers concurred parts of nine of 13 findings and promised changes, the Post said.
