Results of an Unannounced Inspection of ICE’s Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

During our unannounced inspection of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Caroline Detention Facility (Caroline) in Bowling Green, Virginia, we found that Caroline complied with standards for classification, segregation, use of force, recreation, and facility conditions. We also found that Caroline complied with most standards for medical care, but the absence of a dentist caused delays in advanced dental care, and outdated guidance for chronic care was concerning. Further, Caroline did not follow standards related to the voluntary work program.

Date Issued:

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Homeland Security

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

OIG-23-51

Component, if applicable:

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Inspection / Evaluation

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

Additional Details Link:

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2023-09/OIG-23-51-Sep23.pdf

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	No
Ensure timely dental care for advanced procedures is provided to detainees.
2	Open	No
Assess whether a sufficient pool of interested voluntary work program participants exists to accomplish facility needs, without detainees working more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and ensure participants work according to a schedule that does not interfere with required activities.
3	Open	No
Ensure that all detainee grievances receive responses within the required 5 days and the grievances log is accurate.
4	Open	No
Ensure detainee detention files include all submitted requests.
5	Open	No
Ensure ICE personnel provide frequent opportunities for informal contact with detainees by adhering to the weekly visitation schedule posted in the housing units and by recording their visits in the appropriate logs.
6	Open	No
Ensure the posting of all required information, including:
7	Open	No
Ensure compliance with standards for kitchen cleanliness and inventory control, including that: • kitchen workers with facial hair wear beard guards when working in the food preparation or serving areas, • inventory control processes are in place to discard spoiled or expired food, and • a standard operating procedure exists for clearly labeling food expiration dates.
8	Open	No
Ensure the Caroline facility medical staff are using the most current treatment guidance for chronic illnesses.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Ensure timely dental care for advanced procedures is provided to detainees.

Open

Assess whether a sufficient pool of interested voluntary work program participants exists to accomplish facility needs, without detainees working more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and ensure participants work according to a schedule that does not interfere with required activities.

Open

Ensure that all detainee grievances receive responses within the required 5 days and the grievances log is accurate.

Open

Ensure detainee detention files include all submitted requests.