Senate Probe Uncovers Allegations of Widespread Abuse in ICE Custody
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Summary
The US Senate has received more than 500 reports of human rights violations in immigration detention facilities across 25 states since January.
Underscoring the situation’s urgency, some of the allegations include physical and sexual abuse, denial of medical care and neglect of pregnant women and children.
The investigation found that 14 involved physical and sexual abuse of pregnant women, and 18 involved children, some as young as two.
It found these instances occurred in both Department of Homeland Security-run facilities and federal prisons.
Civil rights groups claim the Trump administration is expanding the detention system to make migrants’ suffering invisible.
For example, last month it emerged that another “tent city” immigration detention facility is being planned at Fort Bliss in West Texas, which can accommodate up to 5,000 people.
