Report Details Disturbing Conditions, Degrading Treatment in Florida ICE Detention Centers
A new report reveals harrowing accounts of inhumane conditions and degrading treatment of immigrants held in detention centers across South Florida, raising serious questions about the standards of care and human rights within U.S. immigration enforcement.
A joint investigation by Human Rights Watch (HRW), America for Immigrant Justice, and Sanctuary of the South details allegations of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and systematic abuse at the North Krome Services Processing Center, the Broward Transition Center (BTC), and the Federal Detention Center in Miami. The report, released on July 21st, paints a disturbing picture of a system struggling under increased pressure and prioritizing detention over basic human dignity.
Mounting Evidence of Systemic Abuse
The findings are based on interviews with individuals currently or recently detained, as well as their families and legal representatives, alongside a review of official data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CNN has independently verified many of the complaints, acknowledging that these issues have been repeatedly raised by advocacy groups and media outlets.
The surge in detentions is directly linked to the increasingly stringent immigration policies enacted during the administration of Donald Trump, who pledged a policy of “mass deportation.” This has placed immense strain on ICE, leading to a significant increase in the number of people held in custody – currently around 57,000 nationwide, according to federal data. Despite claims that enforcement is focused on the “worst of the worst,” data reveals that the majority of those detained have no serious criminal convictions.
“Eating Like Animals”: Accounts of Degrading Treatment
The report details specific instances of abuse, including the forced feeding of detainees while handcuffed behind their backs. One British businessman, Harpinder Chauhan, arrested by ICE during a routine immigration appointment, described being forced to eat in this manner, stating, “We had to bend and eat off the chairs with our mouths, like dogs.” Another detainee, identified only as Pedro, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We had to eat like animals.”
Beyond the humiliation of forced feeding, the report highlights a pattern of degrading treatment by ICE agents and private security contractors. At the Krome center, women were reportedly detained in areas designated for men, with bathrooms exposed to view from male detainees’ cells. One woman, the wife of an Argentinian national, stated, “If men stopped in a chair, they could see directly inside our room and the bathroom.”
Overcrowding and Neglect of Basic Needs
The conditions within the detention centers are described as appalling. Detainees report sleeping on cold cement floors in overcrowded rooms, lacking bedding and access to basic hygiene products. According to HRW, detainees were often forced to sleep on the floor under constant fluorescent light. One individual recounted having to sleep next to a toilet in a cell so crowded that detainees had to step over each other to move. Another reported being denied access to soap and water for 20 consecutive days.
The population at the Krome center has tripled since January 2025, reaching almost three times its operational capacity. While Krome is designed to house approximately 600 individuals, it held over 670 in April, according to the latest ICE data.
Medical Negligence and a Culture of Silence
The report also raises serious concerns about the lack of adequate medical care, even for detainees with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and HIV. Detainees fear reporting medical issues or requesting assistance, as doing so could result in solitary confinement. “If you ask for help, they isolate you [in solitary confinement]. If you cry, they could take you [to solitary confinement] for two weeks. That’s why people are silent,” one woman told HRW researchers.
At least two recent deaths, one at Krome and another at BTC, are potentially linked to medical negligence, according to the report. The death of Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman who died at the Broward Transition Center in April, is currently under investigation by ICE, who stated they are reviewing the circumstances.
“Alligator Alcatraz” and the Expansion of Detention
These findings arrive amidst growing controversy surrounding the opening of a new immigration detention center in the Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by critics. Inaugurated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis alongside former President Trump, the facility has been condemned by immigrant rights advocates as being “designed to inflict suffering.”
HRW researchers assert that the conditions detailed in their report represent flagrant and systematic violations of international standards and U.S. government norms regarding immigration detention. They warn that the Trump administration’s focus on “mass deportations” will likely exacerbate the situation, leading to further overcrowding and deteriorating conditions in facilities ill-equipped to handle the influx of detainees. The report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform and a commitment to upholding the human rights of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
