Democrats condemn treatment of Cameroonian migrants in ICE Detention

[Cameroonian Migrants\Asylum Seekers]
Members: “We write to express grave concerns over the situation of Cameroonian migrants and asylum seekers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.”
Photo: YouTube

Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX) led a letter to oppose the treatment of Cameroonian migrants and asylum seekers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention.

The letter also raises serious concerns related to human rights violations, the ongoing Anglophone crisis, and the emergence of Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

“We write to express grave concerns over the situation of Cameroonian migrants and asylum seekers in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention,” the Members wrote. “There have been several alarming high-profile incidents, including the death of a Cameroonian migrant in ICE detention last year and a hunger strike held at Pine Prairie this past June.”

In the most recent U.S. Department of State annual human rights report on Cameroon, the Department identified patterns of extrajudicial killings, torture, and forced disappearance by the Cameroonian government as well as various non-state actors.

In 2019, the State Department restricted security aid to Cameroon in response to reported atrocities committed by Cameroonian security forces. Due to several overlapping crises in Cameroon, the denial of Cameroonian asylum seekers may result in tragedy for Cameroonians.

A PDF of the letter can be found here.