A top ICE official on Long Island has admitted to submitting inaccurate detainee information to a federal judge — after personally reviewing surveillance tapes and discovering agent mistakes.
John Diaz, a senior official with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, apologized for submitting the incorrect information regarding a migrant’s stay in alleged inhumane conditions at the Central Islip federal courthouse, Suffolk County‘s detainment facility, according to a letter Diaz submitted to Trump-appointed US District Judge Gary Brown on Jan. 24.
“I acknowledge that the Court correctly determined that there were a number of errors in my declaration,” Diaz wrote — calling the goofs the result of a “data entry error.
“I apologize for these errors and know that my declaration fell short of the professional standard that I seek to uphold. I assure the Court that the errors in my declaration were not intentionally made.”
The ICE big admitted to having to go back and view CCTV footage to get the accurate information since the agency’s internal records were wrong and did not line up with the footage he reviewed, he wrote in his letter to Brown.
“Although my declaration accurately reflected this information as maintained in [the electronic database], the information was nevertheless wrong,” Diaz admitted.
His letter comes as a response to Brown previously threatening ICE with contempt over conditions inside holding cells at the courthouse — where multiple detainees were allegedly confined overnight in a cramped room with an open toilet, no bedding and constant lighting, according to court documents.
Brown called the conditions “putrid” and accused the agency of submitting “demonstrably false” court filings over the issue and subjecting detainees to “inhumane and unlawful” treatment, court documents detailed.
Diaz said his agency’s questionable court filing stem from arresting agents submitting incorrect booking data on when and how long detainees were being held and released at the courthouse.
An additional letter to the judge filed that same week also finalized the agency’s previous agreement to sweeping changes at the Central Islip Hold Room.
The changes include capping the number of detainees held at a time, limiting their detention there to 12 hours, restricting holding cells to two people, guaranteeing lighting and temperature adjustments and promising to provide sleeping mats, meals, water, clothing changes, hygiene items and phone access.
ICE stated that it now plans to provide detainees with a written notice of their rights, “including the right to calls with counsel,” and additional food, water, changes in clothes and personal hygiene items upon request, according to the court filing.
The agency also pledged to fix its faulty detention records and create a special habeas response team and on-site lawyer to ensure faster compliance with court orders and accurate submissions, according to court documents.
Just days later, Brown ordered the case reopened to public view — a move that appeared to signal the court was, for now, satisfied with ICE’s response after previously locking the matter down.