Infectious Disease Expert Calls on ICE to Release Immigration Detainees for COVID-19

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) has shared this expert letter from Dr. Carlos Franco-Paredes, Program Director, Infectious Disease Fellowship at the University of Colorado.Dr. Franco-Paredes is an internationally-recognized expert in infectious diseases, with decades of research, scholarship, experience, and accolades under his belt.Read his c.v. and his full expert letter to ICE below. Following is an excerpt.

Likely Outcome if COVID-19 Spreads in Immigration DetentionGiven the large population density of immigration detention centers, and the ease oftransmission of this viral pathogen, the attack rate may take exponential proportions.Behind the walls of a detention center, the basic reproductive rate of the infection (R0=2)may be responsible for infecting between 30-50% of detainees and staff within a facility. Ofthese one-fifth will require hospital admission, and about 10% will develop severe diseaserequiring intensive care unit. For an immigration detention center that holds 1500detainees, we can estimate that 500-650 may acquire the infection. Of these, 100 to 150individuals may develop severe disease potentially requiring admission to an intensive careunit. Of these, 10-15 individuals may die from respiratory failure. The cost of care of in theintensive care unit is in the order of $5000 to $8,000 dollars per day for those requiringmechanical ventilation.Risk Minimization Through Release from DetentionIn contrast, releasing those in the high risk age groups and those with underlying medicalconditions with lessen the impact of an outbreak of COVID-19. The main reason is thatthose in these groups at risk carry the highest concentration of virus in their respiratorysecretions and act as human incubators of the virus. Additionally, by having a reducednumber of people and held together in a confined space, there is a reduced number ofnetworks of transmission of the infection. This intervention is the public interest since therelease people from detention will minimize the number of people infected with COVID-19that may potentially spread to the surrounding communities around detention centers.COVID-19 LetterCarlos Franco-Paredes CV_ 2020