Immigration agency leaks data on more than 6,000 detainees

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement mentioned Wednesday that non-public data of greater than 6,000 folks in its custody was inadvertently posted to its web site for about 5 hours.

The data included names, nationalities, detention facilities the place the folks had been held and distinctive numbers used to determine them in authorities data, in response to Human Rights First, an advocacy group that found the leak on Monday.

All 6,252 folks whose identities had been uncovered expressed worry of persecution if courts denied their bids to stay in america and had been returned residence, in response to Human Rights First.

Eleanor Acer, the group’s senior director for refugee safety, mentioned she apprehensive that detainees or their households could also be at risk of their residence nations.

“In some nations individuals are focused, retaliated towards for looking for asylum,” Acer mentioned.

ICE mentioned an Excel spreadsheet was erroneously posted “whereas performing routine updates” and the company deleted the data from its public web site 11 minutes after being notified.

“Although unintentional, this launch of knowledge is a breach of coverage and the company is investigating the incident and taking all corrective actions essential,” the company mentioned in a press release.

ICE mentioned it was telling detainees or their attorneys of the leak, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Occasions. That can enable them to find out if it impacts the deserves of their asylum claims.