Gladden v. Department of Homeland Security

CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 23, 2021
Docket1:21-cv-00802
StatusUnknown

This text of Gladden v. Department of Homeland Security (Gladden v. Department of Homeland Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gladden v. Department of Homeland Security, (M.D. Pa. 2021).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

RONALD ROBERT GLADDEN, : Petitioner : : No. 1:21-cv-00802 v. : : (Judge Kane) WARDEN CLAIR DOLL, : Respondent :

MEMORANDUM

On May 3, 2021, pro se Petitioner Ronald Robert Gladden (“Petitioner”), who is currently confined at the York County Prison (“YCP”) in York, Pennsylvania, initiated the above-captioned action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging the constitutionality of his detention by the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). (Doc. No. 1.) Petitioner asserts that he is entitled to relief because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Id.) Petitioner also seeks the release of his medical records. (Id.; Doc. No. 4.) Following an Order to show cause (Doc. No. 9), Respondent filed a response, contending that Petitioner’s detention is lawful (Doc. No. 12). Upon review of Petitioner’s filings and Respondent’s response, the Court concludes that it is unnecessary to wait for Petitioner’s traverse before ruling upon his petition. For the following reasons, the Court will deny Petitioner’s § 2241 petition. I. BACKGROUND A. Facts Regarding Petitioner Petitioner is a native and citizen of Belize who was admitted to the United States in 1983, at or near Los Angeles, California, as a non-immigration visa B1 visitor. (Doc. No. 12-1 at 4.) Petitioner was authorized to remain in the United States until September 1983, but he continued to remain beyond that date. (Id.) On October 16, 2017, Petitioner was convicted of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine and conspiracy to do the same in the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. (Id.) He was sentenced to three (3) to six (6) years’ imprisonment for each offense. (Id. at 17.) On March 23, 2018, ICE lodged a detainer against Petitioner while he was serving his sentence

at the State Correctional Institution in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (“SCI Camp Hill”). (Id. at 10.) On March 25, 2019, Petitioner was placed into removal proceedings after ICE issued a notice to appear, charging Petitioner with being removable pursuant to section 237(a)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), based on Petitioner’s exceeding the time period during which he was authorized to remain in the United States, and pursuant to section 237(a)(2)(A)(iii), based on Petitioner’s conviction for an aggravated felony relating to trafficking a controlled substance and his conviction for conspiracy. (Id. at 3, 9.) On April 15, 2019, Petitioner was served by mail with a Notice of Intent to Issue a Final Administrative Removal Order (“FARO”). (Id. at 13-14.) The FARO became final on July 23, 2019, and Petitioner was ordered removed to Belize. (Id. at 16.) Petitioner was released to ICE custody on April 21,

2021. (Id. at 17.) On May 18, 2021, DHS reviewed Petitioner’s custody pursuant to Fraihat v. ICE, 445 F. Supp. 3d (C.D. Cal. 2020).1 (Doc. No. 12-1 at 17-19.) DHS noted that Petitioner was aged 55 or older and suffered from the following conditions: hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, and diverticulitis. (Id. at 19.) Although DHS noted that Petitioner’s conditions placed him at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, it decided that he should remain detained because he

1 The Fraihat court issued a nationwide injunction directing ICE to identify and track all detainees with conditions placing them at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19. See Fraihat, 445 F. Supp. 3d at 751. The court also directed ICE to “make timely custody determinations for detainees with [such] [r]isk [f]actors.” See id. posed a threat to public safety given his previous drug trafficking convictions as well as a prior conviction for driving under the influence. (Id. at 17-19.) On June 2, 2021, an immigration judge conducted a reasonable fear determination and concluded that Petitioner had not established a reasonable fear of persecution or torture should he be removed to Belize. (Id. at

20.) This is a final order and no administrative appeal is available to Petitioner pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 1208.31(g)(1). (Id.) B. Facts Regarding YCP’s Response to COVID-19 Since the onset of COVID-19, “ICE epidemiologists have been tracking the outbreak, regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols, and issuing guidance to field staff on screening and management of potential exposure among detainees.” (Resp. Ex. 10, Ritchey Decl. ¶ 8.) YCP is following guidance set forth by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) “to safeguard those in its custody and care.” (Id. ¶ 9.) Moreover, on April 10, 2020, “ICE ERO released its COVID-19 Pandemic Response Requirements (PRR), a guidance document that builds upon previously issued guidance and sets forth specific mandatory requirements expected

to be adopted by all detention facilities housing ICE detainees.” (Id. ¶ 10.) The PRR also sets forth “best practices for such facilities.” (Id.) ICE has reviewed its detained population of at risk inmates to “determine if detention remains appropriate, considering the detainee’s health, public safety, and mandatory detention requirements, and adjusted custody conditions, when appropriate, to protect the health, safety, and well-being of its detainees.” (Id. ¶ 27.) YCP “has the capacity to house 2,245 inmates and has historically often operated near capacity.” (Id. ¶ 7.) As of May 19, 2021, however, “there [were] only 1,350 combined male and female inmates and detainees housed at the facility.” (Id.) YCP screens all detainees for COVID-19. (Id. ¶¶ 11-12.) During intake medical screenings, detainees are assessed for fever and symptoms of respiratory illness and asked to confirm whether they have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 infection or “traveled from or through area(s) with sustained community transmission in the past

two weeks.” (Id. ¶ 13.) “The detainee’s responses and the results of these assessments will dictate whether to monitor or isolate the detainee.” (Id. ¶ 14.) All intakes are screened with temperature checks, a questionnaire, and antibody testing, with or without a nasal swab. (Id. ¶¶ 12-13.) All staff and vendors are also screened when they enter the facility. (Id. ¶ 20.) Automatic electronic temperature screening devices have been installed at employee entrances. (Id.) Moreover, YCP has limited professional visits to non-contact visits and has suspended in- person social visitation and facility tours. (Id. ¶ 21.) Detainees may meet with their attorneys via video or telephone. (Id.) Detainees have daily access to sick call and 24/7 access to the onsite medical staff. (Id. ¶ 18.) “After hours, there is always a provider on call to answer questions and manage medical

issues.” (Id.) Per ICE policy, YCP has designated units to be used for routine quarantining of asymptomatic intakes and transfers. (Id. ¶ 15.) These units accept detainees until they are closed, and the 14-day quarantine clock starts when the last detainee is admitted. (Id. ¶ 15.) If a detainee in a unit develops symptoms during quarantine, that detainee is moved to isolation and the 14-day period starts anew. (Id.) Symptom and temperature checks are performed daily, and a random unit within YCP is chosen for COVID-19 screening every day. (Id.) Before a unit is opened to the general population, everyone is screened with symptom and temperature checks. (Id.) Medical staff also conduct roving temperature checks throughout the facility. (Id. ¶ 25.) Detainees who test positive are isolated and treated and transported to the hospital if their condition deteriorates. (Id.

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Bluebook (online)
Gladden v. Department of Homeland Security, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gladden-v-department-of-homeland-security-pamd-2021.