A U.S. Senate investigation has uncovered dozens of credible reports of medical neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers nationwide — with detainees denied insulin, left without medical attention for days and forced to compete for clean water — raising scrutiny about how the government oversees its vast detention system.
The report released by Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, details severe conditions affecting detainees, including more than 80 credible cases of medical neglect. This review builds upon an earlier investigation that highlighted mistreatment of vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women, gathering insights from over 500 reports of abuse and neglect documented between January and August.
Investigators highlighted alarming patterns, including life-threatening delays in medical care and numerous complaints about inadequate access to food and clean drinking water. A Homeland Security employee stated that ambulances have to come almost every day,” underscoring systemic failures in the oversight of federal detention practices.
Ossoff noted, Every human being is entitled to dignity and humane treatment, emphasizing the need for continued scrutiny of the detention system. He reported accounts of detainees suffering significant health challenges from lapses in care, like one diabetic detainee going without insulin for days, leading to severe health issues.
The investigation also revealed distressing ongoing complaints concerning food quality, including expired milk and foul-smelling water. Detainees reported being forced to compete for limited bottles of clean water, reflecting inadequate provisions in many facilities.
Numerous attorneys and advocates have corroborated these findings through firsthand accounts, highlighting systemic inequities and neglect in the treatment of detainees across various facilities.
