None of these alleged hysterectomies are on record, which appears to be an inadvertent admission of guilt by the ICE facility in and of itself. The execution of these procedures without women's knowledge or consent is a gross violation of the rights these women have over their own bodies on US soil.
"When I met all these women who had had surgeries, I thought this was like an experimental concentration camp. It was like they're experimenting with our bodies," said an anonymous immigrant who spoke with Project South. Performing these life-altering surgeries without a patient’s consent is absolutely appalling, and it follows a US history of forced sterilization of minorities that dates back to the early 20th century-- a reality that is often overlooked.
Fortunately, with regards to the case brought against ORR by the ACLU in representing the young Jane Doe, some justice has been served. The ACLU represented many other minor migrant women who were not being given access to abortion services that they requested. In individual cases they restored the women’s rights to abortion services, and according to the Deputy Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, Brigitte Amiri, the formation of a class action lawsuit successfully suspended the unlawful ORR policies on abortion access throughout the duration of the case.
In looking at this victory for immigrant women and the successful protection of their reproductive rights, we hope to see a similar outcome for those who may have been so horribly wronged at these ICE facilities. We look at these coming months with the hope that further investigations will reveal the truth and that those responsible for these irreparable actions will be held accountable.
Edited by Bella Perreira