New Senate Report Finds Widespread Abuse in U.S. Immigration Detention Centers

A recent U.S. Senate investigation uncovered dozens of credible reports of medical neglect and inhumane conditions at immigration detention centers across the country, adding to a growing list of abuse allegations against immigrants under the Trump administration.

According to a report released by Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, detainees were denied insulin, left without medical attention for days, and forced to compete for clean water, among other alleged human rights violations.

The report, first obtained by The Associated Press, draws from accounts by detainees, attorneys, advocates, media reports, and at least one Department of Homeland Security employee. It describes serious delays in medical care that, in some cases, put detainees' lives at risk.

It is not the first time the Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its handling of immigration detention centers. As reported by The Latin Times earlier this year, detainees have alleged physical abuse by guards, wrongful arrests, unsanitary conditions, and even widespread mistreatment of pregnant women.

Ossoff's report documents more than 80 credible cases of medical neglect, along with numerous complaints of inadequate food and water, findings Senate investigators say reveal systemic failures in the federal oversight of detention facilities.

"Americans overwhelmingly demand and deserve secure borders. Americans also overwhelmingly oppose the abuse and neglect of detainees," Ossoff told The Associated Press. "Every human being is entitled to dignity and humane treatment. That is why I have for years investigated and exposed abuses in prisons, jails, and detention centers, and that is why this work will continue."

The investigation also found widespread complaints about food and water quality, citing evidence from court filings, depositions and interviews. Some detainees said the meals were too small for adults, while others reported expired milk and foul-smelling water that appeared to make children sick.

In one case at a Texas facility, a teenager recounted that adults were forced to compete with children for bottled water when staff left out only a few bottles at a time.

The Associated Press said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Similarly, the Department of Homeland Security previously dismissed Ossoff's earlier findings in August, calling the allegations "false" and accusing the senator of trying to "score political points."

Despite repeated denials from top officials, some Homeland Security employees have corroborated the conditions described in the report. One staff member assigned to a detention site told investigators that medical emergencies are so frequent "ambulances have to come almost every day."

In one case, a detainee suffered a heart attack after complaining of chest pain for days without treatment. Others reported being denied inhalers and asthma medication or waiting weeks for prescriptions to be filled.

Reports of medical neglect, unsanitary conditions and inadequate care have contributed to at least 20 deaths in ICE custody so far this year, making it one of the deadliest years in ICE detention in two decades, according to NPR.