Migrant Organization “Do not actively try to quarantine foreigner shelters”
Ministry of Justice “Provides 2 masks per week… Relieving overcrowding by rearranging manpower”
.” alt=”Hwaseong Foreigner Shelter. Material photo of Hwaseong Foreigner Shelter. <한겨레> Material photo.
“There are so many people here right now… The maximum number of people in the room is 12, but it is full. The same goes for other rooms, and no one wears a mask.” Foreign student A (23), who was detained at the Hwaseong Foreigners’ Center in Gyeonggi Province at the beginning of last year due to the issue of visa expiration, expressed frustration to the migrant worker support group’Friends of Asia’ on the 4th. It is pointed out that while the collective infection of COVID-19 in correctional facilities is a problem, foreigners held in shelters are also left in the’quarantine blind spot’ due to overcrowding. As a result of checking through the Ministry of Justice on this day, it was found that the number of specialized foreigner protection facilities has been steadily increasing since the spread of Corona 19 in March last year. As of the 4th, a total of 734 foreigners were detained in three specialized foreigner protection facilities operated by the Ministry of Justice (Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, Cheongju, Chungbuk, and Yeosu, Jeollanam-do). Compared to March last year (389 people), the number has nearly doubled. Since May of last year, it has maintained more than 700 people. Foreigners’ shelters are detention facilities where foreigners who have been ordered to be deported are temporarily locked up until they leave the country. According to the Ministry of Justice, the average acceptance rate of the three foreign shelters is 72% (Hwaseong 69%, Cheongju 77%, Yeosu 74%). However, considering the case that the number of new foreigners staying in the quarantine shelter for a certain period of time before official admission is full, the acceptance rate is △ 96.1% (197 people) at Cheongju Foreigner Shelter △ 92.1% (164 people) at Yeosu Foreigner Shelter △ Hwaseong Fortress Foreigner shelters account for 77.7% (373 people). The shelter living space is similar to the former military dormitory structure. There are as few as 5 people and up to 18 people of different nationalities living together in a 33.1m2 (10 pyeong) space divided into 3 areas including the living room, dining area, dormitory, and toilet. The average space per person is not disclosed because it is a national security facility. Some pointed out that personal quarantine rules in living spaces are not being properly followed. Mr. A said, “The shelter provides one mask a week, but no one uses a mask in the room, including mealtime. No one tells foreigners to wear masks and hand sanitizers.” He was anxious, “a few months ago, a patient suffering from high fever from tuberculosis was not quarantined, so people protested, and I am worried that there will even be a corona 19 confirmed person.” About 50 migrant and refugee human rights organizations issued a statement on the same day, saying, “After the collective infection in the Seoul Eastern Detention Center, the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the limitations of prisons and the lack of preemptive quarantine measures, but it has not made any active quarantine efforts for foreigner shelters.” “Considering the poor medical conditions inside the shelter, if a group infection occurs, the situation may become out of control,” he warned. In response, the Ministry of Justice said, “More than two masks are provided a week, but additionally if contaminated,” said “We are fully operating protection facilities nationwide through relocation of personnel to relieve concerns about overcrowding of foreigner protection facilities.” . By Jang Pil-soo, staff reporter [email protected]