“Lots of ugly rumors are uncritically repeated — like the presence of maggots in the food served by detention center kitchens, sexual assaults, deaths, etc. Some of the rumors were investigated by DHS and others and found to be untrue or very unlikely, but the commission's report doesn't bother to mention those investigations. In no case did the commission undertake an investigation to determine the truth or falsity of a rumor it reported,” she wrote.

In her rebuttal, included in the report, Heriot said: “It is said that where there is smoke, there is fire. But sometimes where there is smoke, there is only a smoke-making machine, busily stoked by publicists working for activist organizations.”