More than 5,000 individuals have contracted Covid-19 while in ICE custody, including more than 800 ICE detainees just in the last week. HuffPost Video animated the story of one detainee, Antony, to show the terror of the situation. ICE facilities are often closed off to advocates and the press; we have to rely on witnesses who have been on the inside to report on what they have seen. Sometimes animation can help expand our imaginations when words aren’t enough. Here is Rowaida Abdelaziz, a reporter who covers immigration and civil rights for HuffPost, on how the story came together.
Tell us about what is happening with those being detained by ICE right now?
Before the pandemic, ICE facilities were already vulnerable to the spread of diseases due to crowded conditions and lack of medical attention.
When the coronavirus hit, the pandemic brought into harsh light the already dire situations inside the facilities. More than 5,000 individuals have contracted the virus while in ICE custody, including more than 800 ICE detainees just in the last week. It wasn’t until several lawsuits later, ICE was forced to release over 1,000 people.
35-year-old Antony* (not his real name) was among them. An immunocompromised immigrant from the Caribbean, Antony’s story details the mass fear, lack of information, and increasing concern of the abuses by ICE and the urgent need to address the situation before it's too late.
This has been happening for a while. Why is it so hard to make it stop?
Advocates say ICE’s lack of transparency has left them unable to assess the true cost of outbreaks and the course of action needed to put a halt to the spread. Although ICE has announced an increase in COVID-19 testing, advocates say it's not enough.
Oftentimes results only occur with public outcry and lawsuits, as we saw with the latest release of detainees. But under the Trump administration, it’s only become more challenging for advocacy organizations to successfully free their clients.
How do you think telling this story via animation has helped illuminate this story?
Readers got to hear Antony’s voice and picture his journey. As journalists, we aim to master the elements of storytelling to captivate our audience and this animation helped us do just that. It was a beautiful marriage between the text and the visuals to bring Antony’s story to life.
Anything else you'd like to add?
It’s important to remember behind these numbers are humans. These are parents and siblings and spouses, all of whom are seeking a better life. Despite their status, every human deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. That’s all these people want at the end of the day. | 
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