Across the U.S., vacant prison buildings, once shuttered due to staffing shortages, allegations of abuse, or declining prison populations, are now being repurposed for immigration detention. Under the Trump administration, the number of people held in immigration detention has reached an all-time high of over 65,000. This surge has led to the reopening of old facilities, many of which have a history of poor conditions.
Setareh Ghandehari, advocacy director at the Detention Watch Network, expressed concern about this trend, highlighting that the government is using former prisons with a history of abuse to quickly expand ICE detention capacity. “Many of these prisons faced allegations of poor conditions while they were open, and now they are reopening at a time when oversight measures have been reduced,” she noted.
Reopening Closed Facilities With Negligence Allegations
Several facilities that had previously been closed are now functioning as ICE detention centers. In Texas, CoreCivic reopened a facility in Dilley, which had previously faced criticism for issues such as inadequate medical care and a lack of clean water. Similarly, the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, closed amid allegations of medical abuse in 2021, has now been reopened. Additionally, the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan, has undergone multiple reopenings over the years, this time as an ICE facility after a stint as a federal prison.
These reopenings have raised alarms, especially given the reported histories of abuse and neglect at these facilities. For instance, detainees have reported inadequate medical care, with some detainees not receiving necessary medications like chemotherapy pills, leading to serious health concerns.
The Impact on Detainees
The treatment of detainees has remained a significant issue, with many still reporting unsafe and unhealthy conditions despite assurances from private prison companies like GEO Group and government entities. Contreras Cervantes, who was detained at North Lake, was denied his chemotherapy for weeks, exacerbating his leukemia. This prompted a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Michigan. While GEO Group and ICE maintain that they comply with federal standards, the overwhelming number of reports pointing to negligence and mistreatment suggests otherwise.
Decreased Oversight and Accountability
Eunice Cho, senior counsel at the ACLU’s National Prison Project, explained that the lack of proper oversight, especially after significant cuts to agencies overseeing detention facilities, has left detainees vulnerable to abuse. The reliance on for-profit private companies has further exacerbated these issues, as these companies prioritize profit over the well-being of detainees. With these companies seeing record profits, the incentive to cut corners and reduce care remains strong, leading to widespread violations of detainee rights.
A Call for Legal Assistance and Action
If you or someone you know is experiencing mistreatment in a detention facility, Police Brutality Center may be able to help.
Through legal support and public awareness, the Police Brutality Center works tirelessly to ensure justice for those suffering from the violations of their human rights in detention centers across the nation.
If you or a loved one has been affected by mistreatment in a detention or juvenile detention facility, contact Police Brutality Center today to explore your legal rights and options.