New inmate infected with COVID ID'd as ICE detainee; car protest set today

'Everyone has the right to health' is the message on a car that was part of a rally to free all ICE detainees during the pandemic. (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - A day after announcing that a Strafford County House of Corrections employee had tested positive for COVID-19, a Strafford County Commissioner announced on Saturday that the jail had its first inmate infection, an ICE detainee just admitted to the facility.

"As of May 16, 2020, we have medically confirmed that a new inmate recently brought to the Strafford County House of Corrections had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," County Commissioner George Maglaras said in a statement sent Saturday. "Since his arrival, he has been in quarantine as per HOC policy and, therefore has not exposed any other inmates or staff members."

The inmate is now being housed in a negative pressure cell and will remain there until his treatment period is over, according to Maglaras.

Safety officials have not confirmed where they believe the new inmate contracted the virus.

The state ACLU claimed earlier this month that not immediately releasing all ICE detainees from Strafford County Jail put inmates, staff and the broader community "at great risk of death or grave injury," due to COVID-19.

The jail on Friday announced that an employee whose job entailed no inmate contact had tested positive and was quarantining at home.

The law firms of Nixon Peabody LLP, Whatley Kallas LLP, Shaheen & Gordon PA, Newman Law Office PLLC, and Hinckley Allen & Snyder LLP all joined in the class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court earlier this month seeking the immediate release of all ICE detainees at the jail.

Strafford County House of Corrections Supt. Chris Brackett said ICE did allow two detainees held at the jail to be released on Wednesday, but another 65 remain in custody. ACLU officials said the two were being held on detainers, but not for any crimes.

"We are practicing social distancing and the jail staff and the inmates have been very cooperative in this effort," he said.

The jail is equipped with two negative pressure cells where a prisoner who has signs and symptoms can be safely quarantined, Brackett said. It is in one of these cells that the infected ICE detainee is being held.

This is the first confirmed case of an inmate inside a New Hampshire correctional facility testing positive for COVID-19, according to ACLU officials.

A "Rolling Rally" past the jail to protest the detention of ICE detainees is set for 1 this afternoon.