Berks County will pay $75,000 to a woman who spent eight months inside of the Berks County Residential Center. Under a contract with ICE, the facility was used to house immigrants detained at the border during the pendency of asylum cases.
She says the staffer had sex with the woman in bathrooms and in hallways several times and when she reported it, she was retaliated against.
"Coming forward takes a lot of bravery and courage," Yeh said.
Yeh says the staffer pleaded guilty to institutional sexual assault and did four months in prison. The woman, now 24, won her asylum case and now lives in Georgia.
"We are glad that this case was able to shine a spotlight on abuse in immigration detention," said Yeh.
The Berks County Solicitor issued a statement that said in part, "Berks County stands behind their defense of this action and their position that the Shelter Care Counselors had no knowledge of the intimate relationship between (the staffer and the woman)....The County remains committed to the services they provide to all residents of the Berks County Residential Center."