Abusive Conditions in Florida Immigration Detention Centers Exposed by Human Rights Watch

The US government has been criticized by Human Rights Watch for subjecting immigrants detained in three Florida facilities to abusive, degrading, and in some cases life-threatening conditions. The report, "'You Feel Like Your Life Is Over': Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration Detention Centers Since January 2025," documents that people detained at Krome North Service Processing Center, Broward Transitional Center, and the Federal Detention Center in Miami have been held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, subjected to degrading treatment, and have not been given access to prompt and adequate medical care. The report also highlights the experiences of 17 immigrants at the three detention facilities since January 2025, who described being denied medical care, subjected to prolonged and unjustifiable shackling during transportation, and being held in freezing, overcrowded cells without bedding.

Key Takeaways:

• At least two deaths in custody may have been linked to medical neglect, with one man describing being denied medical care for a strangulated hernia until he collapsed in pain.
• Detainees at Krome, a men's detention facility, were held in overcrowded cells without bedding, denied access to hygiene, and subjected to prolonged shackling during transportation.
• Women were held at Krome without access to gender-appropriate care or privacy, and were subjected to degrading treatment, including being forced to eat while shackled with their hands behind their backs.
• The researchers found that Krome detainees have been unable to get necessary medical care, including for chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and HIV.
• The US government should prioritize community-based alternatives to detention, immediately address the abusive detention conditions, and provide independent oversight of detention facilities.
• The report highlights the need for the US government to end its use of immigration detention as a default response to nearly everyone apprehended in ever-expanding ICE sweeps.

Statistics:

• Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has driven forward a surge in immigration detention nationally, with 45 out of 181 authorized detention facilities across the country exceeding their contractual capacity in mid-April.
• The number of people detained by ICE in Florida has also surged, driven by federal and state policies that have expanded the scope of immigration enforcement.
• At Krome, the detained population more than tripled in the first three months of 2025, reaching nearly three times its operational capacity.
• FDC, a federal prison that in recent years had not been used for immigration detention, began holding hundreds of immigrants in February.
• Since January 2025, at least 17 immigrants have described their experiences of being denied medical care, subjected to prolonged shackling, and held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Sources:

• "You Feel Like Your Life Is Over': Abusive Practices at Three Florida Immigration Detention Centers Since January 2025" (Human Rights Watch)
• Americans for Immigrant Justice (AIJ)
• Sanctuary of the South