48 immigration detainees have tested positive for COVID-19, including 4 in Arizona

At least 48 immigrants have tested positive for the coronavirus while in ICE custody, including four detainees in facilities in Arizona, according to the most recent statistics provided by federal immigration authorities.

In addition, 15 employees working in ICE detention facilities and 65 ICE employees not assigned to detention centers have tested positive for COVID-19, a sometimes-fatal disease that as of Thursday, April 9, had resulted in at least 16,267 deaths in the United States.

A wave of lawsuits from advocacy groups have demanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement release many of the 33,863 immigrants in ICE custody from detention centers amid the coronavirus outbreak, including the most vulnerable and those who don't pose a threat to the community.

Many detained immigrants say they are terrified of catching the disease because they live in close quarters where it is impossible to practice social distancing.

ICE announced the first employee working at a detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey had contracted the disease on March 19.

ICE officials announced the first  confirmed coronavirus case involving a detainee on March 24.

Here are the latest confirmed cases from ICE as of April 9, 2020:

Detainees*

Bergen County Jail (Hackensack, New Jersey): 2.

Buffalo Federal Detention Facility (Buffalo, New York): 4.

Elizabeth Detention Center (Elizabeth, New Jersey): 7.

Essex County Correctional Facility (Newark, New Jersey): 2.

Florence Detention Center (Florence, Arizona): 2.

Hudson County Jail (Kearny, New Jersey): 5.

Krome Detention Center (Miami, Florida): 1.

La Palma Correctional Facility (Eloy, Arizona): 2.

LaSalle Correctional Center (Olla, Louisiana): 1.

Otay Mesa Detention Center (San Diego, California): 10.

Pike County Correctional Facility (Hawley, Pennsylvania): 5.

Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center (Pine Prairie, Louisiana): 1.

St. Clair County Jail (Huron, Michigan): 1.

Stewart Detention Center (Lumpkin, Georgia): 2.

Winn Correctional Center (Winnfield, Louisiana): 1.

York County Prison (York, Pennsylvania): 1.

Local hospital (Miami, Florida): 1.

Total: 48.

*May no longer be in ICE custody

ICE employees at detention centers

Aurora Contract Detention Facility (Aurora, CO): 2.

Butler County Jail (Hamilton, OH): 1.

Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility (Elizabeth, NJ): 1.

Houston Contract Detention Facility (Houston, Texas): 1.

Hudson County Jail (Kearny, NJ): 1.

Alexandria Staging Facility (Alexandria, Louisiana): 9.

Total: 15.

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez.

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