Declaration from Sarah Perez

In every case I reviewed where the detainee requested to speak with an attorney, the asylum officer merely asked, “Do you want to continue or not?” In none of the interview summaries I reviewed did the asylum officer state that the person could postpone the interview in order to obtain legal representation….–The women reported to me that they were subject to various types of abuse. They overheard ICE officers refer to them as animals. During mealtime, one woman overheard an ICE officer say, “Look at the animals eat.” Women stated that ICE officers yelled at them and told them that they shouldn’t take food out of turn. I also observed mothers using small hand towels to keep their children warm in the over-air conditioned detention facility.