Migrants detained at a federal immigration facility in Miami say they were subjected to inhumane treatment, including being shackled with their hands behind their backs, denied basic medical attention, and forced to eat on their knees like animals, according to a Guardian investigation.
The report, based on multiple interviews, paints a disturbing picture of conditions at three ICE detention centers in South Florida: the Miami Federal Detention Center, Krome North Processing Center, and Broward Transitional Center.
Detainees Forced to Eat While Shackled
At the downtown Miami facility, detainees reported going without lunch while locked in cells for hours. When food was finally distributed around 7 p.m., many remained shackled and were forced to kneel and eat from styrofoam plates on the floor.
“We had to eat like animals,” said one migrant, Pedro.
Krome Facility: No Privacy, No Care
At the Krome North Processing Center, overcrowding has led to extreme and degrading conditions. Women were reportedly forced to use toilets in full view of male guards, denied showers and sufficient food, and in some cases, left stranded on buses for more than 24 hours due to lack of space inside.
One woman described the bus conditions as “disgusting,” with the smell of feces overwhelming the confined space.
Broward Transitional Center: Medical Neglect Turns Deadly
At the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, where a 44-year-old Haitian woman died earlier this year, detainees reported being denied adequate medical and mental health care. One incident described in the report alleges guards turned off surveillance cameras before deploying a “disturbance control team” against migrants protesting the lack of care—leaving at least one detainee with a broken finger.
Rapid Expansion Amid Overcrowding Crisis
With existing facilities overwhelmed, Florida has begun fast-tracking construction of a new detention complex dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” which will reportedly be able to hold up to 5,000 migrants awaiting deportation.
Most Detainees Have No Criminal Record
As of mid-June, ICE detention centers nationwide held an average of 56,400 migrants per day, and data shows that nearly 72% have no criminal history.
Legal Advocates Call Conditions a ‘Human Rights Crisis’
Katie Blankenship, immigration attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, condemned the situation:
“The anti-immigrant escalation and enforcement tactics under the Trump administration are terrorizing communities and ripping families apart,” she said.
“This chaotic and cruel approach is deadly and is creating a human rights crisis that will haunt Florida and the country for years to come.”
These findings come as Trump prepares to visit the new detention site, with immigration once again becoming a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign.
