Allegations of Inhumane Treatment in Miami Immigration Detention Centers

In a troubling report released on July 21, 2025, Human Rights Watch, alongside the advocacy groups Americans for Immigrant Justice and Sanctuary of the South, highlighted severe allegations of mistreatment within three Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in South Florida. Detainees at the Krome detention center in Miami reported being shackled with their hands tied behind their backs and made to kneel to eat, described by one detainee as eating 'like dogs.'

The report reveals a series of abuses and overcrowded conditions that have persisted since January 2025, raising serious concerns about the treatment of migrants in U.S. detention centers. According to the report, dozens of men were confined to a holding cell for hours and denied meals until late in the evening. The conditions were exacerbated by the lack of adequate facilities, with detainees often waiting in cramped quarters, reportedly enduring inhumane treatment.

Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, commented, 'The anti-immigrant escalation and enforcement tactics under the Trump administration are terrorizing communities and ripping families apart, which is especially cruel in the state of Florida, which thrives because of its immigrant communities.' This sentiment is echoed by numerous former detainees who described being dehumanized and subjected to degrading treatment from guards.

At the Krome North service processing center, female detainees faced additional indignities, including being forced to use toilets in full view of male detainees and being denied gender-appropriate healthcare. This facility is reportedly operating well beyond its capacity, with detainees being held in buses for over 24 hours due to lack of space.

The Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach has come under scrutiny as well, particularly following the tragic death of 44-year-old Haitian detainee Marie Ange Blaise in April 2025. Reports from former detainees indicate that adequate medical care was routinely denied, with staff often dismissive or hostile when approached for assistance.

The report also details an incident in April at the downtown Miami jail, where a surveillance camera was turned off before a 'disturbance control team' allegedly used excessive force against detainees protesting inadequate medical attention for a fellow inmate who was coughing up blood.

Statistical data from ICE shows that the average daily number of immigration detainees nationally was approximately 56,400 in mid-June 2025, with about 72% of those having no criminal history. This marks a significant increase from an average of 37,500 daily detainees throughout 2024.

The overcrowded conditions have prompted Florida authorities to expedite the construction of the controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a facility intended to detain up to 5,000 undocumented migrants awaiting deportation.

The documented abuses and deteriorating conditions in these facilities raise profound ethical concerns about the treatment of migrants in federal custody. As advocacy groups continue to pressure for reforms, the implications for human rights and immigration policy remain stark. The Guardian has reached out to ICE for comment regarding these allegations.