• William D Lopez, Nolan Kline, Alana M W LeBrón, Nicole L Novak, Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, Gregg Gonsalves, Ranit Mishori, Basil A Safi, and Ian M Kysel.
• William D. Lopez is with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor. Nolan Kline is with the Department of Anthropology, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Alana M. W. LeBrón is with the Department of Health, Society, and Behavior and Department of Chicano/Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine. Nicole L. Novak is with the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young is with the Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced. Gregg Gonsalves is with Public Health Modeling Unit, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Ranit Mishori is with Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, DC. Basil A. Safi is with the Office of Engagement Initiatives, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Ian M. Kysel is with the Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY.
• Am J Public Health. 2021 Jan 1; 111 (1): 110-115.

AbstractImmigration detention centers are densely populated facilities in which restrictive conditions limit detainees' abilities to engage in social distancing or hygiene practices designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With tens of thousands of adults and children in more than 200 immigration detention centers across the United States, immigration detention centers are likely to experience COVID-19 outbreaks and add substantially to the population of those infected.Despite compelling evidence indicating a heightened risk of infection among detainees, state and federal governments have done little to protect the health of detained im-migrants. An evidence-based public health framework must guide the COVID-19 response in immigration detention centers.We draw on the hierarchy of controls framework to demonstrate how immigration detention centers are failing to implement even the least effective control strategies. Drawing on this framework and recent legal and medical advocacy efforts, we argue that safely releasing detainees from immigration detention centers into their communities is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in immigration detention settings. Failure to do so will result in infection and death among those detained and deepen existing health and social inequities.

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