Camilla Jessen
Overcrowded cells, freezing temperatures, medical neglect, and psychological abuse.
A new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) paints a grim picture of the U.S. migrant detention system under the second Trump administration.
The international watchdog accuses U.S. authorities of abusive practices and systemic human rights violations in several detention centers across Florida.
The report, released Monday, focuses on three facilities: the Krome North Service Processing Center, the Broward Transitional Center, and the Miami Federal Detention Center.
It documents squalid conditions and severe mistreatment based on firsthand testimonies and legal interviews.
“We Had to Eat Like Dogs”
Drawing from interviews with eight men, three women, and relatives of seven detainees, HRW reveals unsanitary, overcrowded cells, constant exposure to bright neon lights, and denial of basic hygiene products.
Several inmates reported being forced to sleep on cold floors, often without blankets, in rooms chilled by high-powered air conditioning.
One woman described a cell with only one sink, covered in feces, while a man recalled being forced to eat handcuffed with his hands behind his back.
“We had to bend over to eat with our mouths, like dogs,” he told Digi24.
Psychological Pressure and Isolation
The report also highlights a pattern of psychological abuse.
A female detainee revealed that asking for help or showing distress often led to isolation.
“If you cry, they isolate you for two weeks. So people keep quiet,” she said.
HRW characterizes these conditions as “degrading and dehumanizing”, violating international human rights norms.
One 63-year-old Colombian man who spent 63 days in detention described the psychological toll: “The guards treat you like a pile of garbage. You feel like your life is over.”
Medical Neglect and Alleged Deaths
Beyond psychological mistreatment, medical neglect also plays a central role in the HRW findings.
The report details cases where detainees suffering from chronic conditions—including diabetes, asthma, and kidney disorders—were denied adequate care.
In one incident, a woman with kidney stones reportedly vomited and lost consciousness after days without treatment. She was eventually taken for emergency surgery, only to be returned to the same cell.
According to HRW, this systemic neglect may have led to at least two deaths at the three centers. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has yet to respond to these allegations.
Numbers Are Surging
HRW notes that the average daily population in U.S. detention centers has jumped to 56,000 in the first half of 2025, up from 37,500 in 2024.
72% of those detained have no criminal record, according to HRW.
In March alone, one of the Florida centers operated at three times its legal capacity, a direct result of the Trump administration’s aggressive mass arrest campaigns.
Billions Spent, But at What Cost?
Donald Trump, during both terms, has made immigration enforcement a central policy pillar, allocating tens of billions of dollars toward enforcement, detention infrastructure, and border security.
A recent congressional budget bill approved by his administration included $45 billion to expand the detention system with 100,000 new beds for migrants.
Despite this massive investment, the conditions inside detention centers continue to deteriorate, according to HRW.
Critics argue that the human cost of this crackdown is being overlooked—and in some cases, hidden behind barred doors and bright lights that never turn off.
