A lawyer for Immigration and Customs Enforcement told a federal judge Friday the agency has released more than 65 medically vulnerable detainees from the Otay Mesa Detention Center this week.
The releases came as a result of a lawsuit filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union. This comes two days after a detainee died from COVID-19, the first such death of a person held in ICE detention.
RELATED: Detainee Who Died From Coronavirus At Otay Mesa Detention Center Eligible For Release
Five more detainees are set to be released Friday or Saturday, ICE said. Twenty more are waiting for medical clearance for release.
As of Thursday, there were 140 detainees positive for COVID-19 at Otay Mesa Detention Center. It is the largest outbreak of COVID-19 in immigration detention in the country.
ICE has also recommended not releasing 35 medically vulnerable detainees, saying they are dangerous to society.
