One-third of detained immigrants refusing vaccine: report

One-third of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have refused to take the coronavirus vaccine, internal numbers in the agency say, sources told Axios. 

The agency did not say how many immigrants were offered the coronavirus vaccine, but one official told the outlet immigrants are declining the shot for similar reasons U.S. citizens do. 

Residents who decline to get the shot most notably point to fear of side effects or skepticism about how quickly the vaccine was made.

While 3 in 10 immigrants are declining the shots, ICE has distributed more than 9,500 Johnson & Johnson vaccines among the 10,000 the agency received, according to Axios.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues its vaccination efforts to include voluntary vaccinations for individuals in the care and custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” an ICE spokesperson told Axios.

There are currently 900 COVID-19 cases among ICE detainees. Overall, ICE detainees have seen almost 20,000 cases and nine deaths from the virus. 

Coronavirus infections recently began surging from April to July as the number of detainees at ICE facilities continues to go up. 

The Hill has reached out to ICE for comment.