As the Trump administration ramps up immigration arrests and workplace raids, detention facilities across the U.S. are overwhelmed, housing more than 56,000 detainees — far exceeding the federal capacity of 41,000 beds.
Despite denials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), detainees, attorneys, and lawmakers have detailed troubling conditions inside these centers. Reports describe overcrowded spaces, poor sanitation, limited medical care, and restricted access to legal counsel. In some facilities, detainees are confined for days in holding areas meant for only a few hours, often without clean clothes, showers, or basic medical services.
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“These are the worst conditions I have seen in my 20-year career,” said Paul Chavez, litigation and advocacy director at Americans for Immigrant Justice in Florida.
Since the beginning of the year, at least 10 individuals have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, including two suicides. At the Krome detention center in Miami, detainees recently formed a human “SOS” sign to protest worsening conditions.
This spike in detentions stems from a White House directive, spearheaded by senior adviser Stephen Miller, setting a daily goal of 3,000 arrests. In response, the administration expanded contracts with private prison operators and requested $45 billion for detention — a tenfold increase from the current budget.
Many detainees endure extended confinement with little to no hygiene. Marcelo Gomes, 18, recalled spending six days in a Massachusetts facility without showers, decent food, or privacy. “It was so bad,” he said, “I used water to drink it down.”
At the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington — run by the GEO Group — legal advocates report deteriorating conditions. Lawyer Alejandra Gonza said detainees received meals late at night, had no outdoor time, and couldn’t access money sent by their families. Complaining detainees were reportedly placed in solitary confinement.
Transferred detainees in Alaska faced similar hardships. Cindy Woods of the ACLU of Alaska told state lawmakers, “Many of them are struggling with the punitive setting and the isolation from family.”
Elected officials across the country have raised red flags. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico said some detainees lacked clean drinking water and working toilets. In California, Representative Judy Chu described witnessing “filthy, inhumane conditions” at the Adelanto facility.
ICE has denied all allegations. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin insisted detainees receive proper meals, medical care, and access to family and legal support. She blamed delays in deportations on court injunctions.
GEO Group spokesperson Christopher Ferreira stated, “Our facilities are never overcrowded,” and claimed services meet federal standards.
But firsthand accounts paint a stark contrast. In Los Angeles, detainees spent days in a facility intended for 12-hour holds. “It’s a horror show,” said Mark Rosenbaum of Public Counsel. One detainee described being locked in a room with 60 men and only one working toilet.
Another man, arrested at an ICE check-in in New York, was shuffled between facilities across multiple states, making it nearly impossible for his family or lawyer to find him. Others described being served rotten food and discovering worms in a drinking-water sink.
In some centers, detainees are reportedly offered money to leave the U.S. “You want to leave? We’ll pay you because we need your bed,” an ICE official allegedly told a detainee, according to lawyer Nera Shefer.
As enforcement escalates, the nation’s immigration detention system continues to draw criticism for overcrowding, limited healthcare, and pressuring individuals to agree to voluntary deportation — often at the cost of due process.
