“Protection from sexual abuse in immigration detention is particularly important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, individuals as they are among the most vulnerable to sexual abuse in confinement. DHS [Department of Homeland Security] introduced PREA [Prison Rape Elimination Act] standards in early March to establish a “zero tolerance standard” for rape and to protect immigrants in detention facilities from sexual abuse. These standards are an important step toward protecting immigrants, but further reforms are still needed” (p. 1). Topics addressed include: sexual assault in immigration detention; the Prison Rape Elimination Act; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s PREA standards-zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, safe placement standards, standards on training and searches, and reporting requirements.
