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On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released new “National Detention Standards” that ease regulations in immigration jails for the benefit of for-profit prison companies.In its report, ICE claims that the new national standards “streamline” its regulations and “reduce the burden” on detention operators. But the revised standards eliminate pay requirements for people being detained — which previously often stood at $1 a day — and eliminate mandates requiring in-person and telephone interpretation and translation.

The new regulations state that AI can be used for “non-critical communication” and “informal interactions with detainees” in lieu of real-life translation services. ICE said that this ensures interpretation will be available “at no cost to the detainees” – as if, without AI, those detained should be expected to pay for interpretation. Advocates have sounded the alarm that “noncritical communication” includes responding to the grievances of those detained, which often include complaints about being denied lifesaving medical care.

The regulations also state that facilities cannot refuse to admit anyone ICE has detained. According to The Associated Press, this means that “facilities may not be able to immediately refer severely ill or disabled detainees whom they cannot accommodate to hospitals or other settings for care.” It also reduces the liability of immigration jails in case of deaths. At least 50 individuals have died in ICE detention or shortly........

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