ICE PBNDS 2011 — Standard 4.1 Food Service (Pest Control)

Citation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011, Standard 4.1, “Food Service.” The per-standard PDF carries the footer “PBNDS 2011 (Revised December 2016).” Read on September 24, 2026. Section references follow the standard’s numbering: Part V (Expected Practices), section J (Safety and Sanitation) and section K (Food Storage, Receiving and Inventory).

What It Says (Verbatim)

I. Purpose and Scope (applicability):

“This detention standard applies to the following types of facilities housing ICE/ERO detainees: • Service Processing Centers (SPCs); • Contract Detention Facilities (CDFs); and • State or local government facilities used by ERO through Intergovernmental Service Agreements (IGSAs) to hold detainees for more than 72 hours.”

“Procedures in italics are specifically required for SPCs and CDFs. IGSA facilities must conform to these procedures or adopt, adapt or establish alternatives, provided they meet or exceed the intent represented by these procedures.”

V.J.5 Environmental Sanitation and Safety, which opens “All facilities shall meet the following environmental standards,” includes:

“f. Facilities must possess hazard-free storage areas: … 3) No pests or infestations may be present.”

“j. Garbage and other trash shall be collected and removed as often as possible. Garbage/refuse containers shall have sufficient capacity for the volume and shall be kept covered, insect- and rodent-proof and frequently cleaned. The facility shall comply with all applicable regulations (local, state and federal) on refuse handling and disposal and standard “1.2 Environmental Health and Safety.""

“k. The premises shall be maintained in a condition that prevents the feeding or nesting of insects and rodents. Outside openings shall be protected by tight-fitting screens, windows, controlled air curtains and self-closing doors.”

V.J.10 Pest Control (the paragraph in full):

“Good sanitation practices are essential to an effective pest control program. The FSA is responsible for pest control in the food service department, including contracting the services of an outside exterminator as necessary. To protect against insects and other pests, air curtains or comparable devices shall be used on outside doors where food is prepared, stored or served.”

The standard defines the FSA at V.A.1 as the “experienced food service administrator (FSA)” under whose direct supervision the food service program operates.

V.K.3 Food Receipt and Storage:

“a. Inspect the incoming shipment for damage, contamination and pest infestation. Rats, mice or insects may be hiding in the middle of a pallet.”

“d. Store all food item products at least six inches from the floor and sufficiently far from walls to facilitate pest-control measures.”

V.K.7 The Dry Storeroom, which opens “Proper care and control of the dry storeroom involves the following,” includes:

“b. sealing or otherwise making impenetrable all wall, ceiling and floor openings to prevent entry of dirt, water, pests, etc.;”

“c. vigilant housekeeping to keep the room clean and free from rodents and vermin (a drain for flushing is desirable);”

IV. References lists, among others, the “FDA Public Health Services Food Code.”

What It Means in Plain Language

Standard 4.1 names a person. Where the 2019 National Detention Standards assign kitchen pest control to “the facility,” PBNDS 4.1 assigns it to the Food Service Administrator, and says that responsibility includes contracting an outside exterminator as necessary.

It also sets one physical requirement in mandatory terms: air curtains or comparable devices shall be used on outside doors where food is prepared, stored or served (V.J.10), and outside openings shall be protected by tight-fitting screens, windows, controlled air curtains and self-closing doors (V.J.5(k)).

The rest of the standard fixes where pests are to be stopped:

1. At the dock. Incoming shipments inspected for pest infestation (V.K.3(a)).
2. On the shelf. Food stored six inches off the floor and away from walls, for the stated purpose of pest control (V.K.3(d)).
3. In the dry storeroom. Wall, ceiling and floor openings sealed; the room kept free from rodents and vermin (V.K.7(b)–(c)).
4. In storage generally. No pests or infestations present (V.J.5(f)(3)).
5. At the refuse containers. Covered, insect- and rodent-proof, frequently cleaned (V.J.5(j)).
6. Across the premises. Maintained so insects and rodents cannot feed or nest (V.J.5(k)).

The facility-wide companion, Standard 1.2, requires monthly inspections by licensed pest-control professionals under contract. See the related page.

Italics. The scope sentence makes italicized procedures mandatory for SPCs and CDFs, and lets IGSA facilities adopt alternatives that meet the intent. In ICE’s PDF, every provision quoted above is set in the standard’s regular (non-italic) body face, checked by reading the font assigned to each paragraph in the PDF itself.

Who It Applies To

As the standard states it (Section I): service processing centers, contract detention facilities, and state or local government facilities used by ERO through intergovernmental service agreements to hold detainees for more than 72 hours. Which standard set governs a particular facility is fixed by its agreement with ICE.

Documentation Evidence

• A designated Food Service Administrator, and the exterminator contract if one is used (V.J.10)
• Air curtains or comparable devices on outside doors where food is prepared, stored or served (V.J.10)
• Receiving logs showing incoming shipments were inspected for pest infestation (V.K.3(a))
• Storage layout showing the six-inch floor clearance and wall clearance (V.K.3(d))
• Dry storeroom inspection records: openings sealed, no rodent or vermin activity (V.K.7(b)–(c))
• Refuse container condition and cleaning records (V.J.5(j))

Confidence Notes

HIGH confidence. Every quotation was read from ICE’s PDF on September 24, 2026, and checked against a full text extraction. Section letters were confirmed from the standard’s own headings (J. Safety and Sanitation; K. Food Storage, Receiving and Inventory). The italics determination was made by reading the font assigned to each quoted paragraph in the PDF.