A U.S. Senate investigation has uncovered over 500 credible reports of human rights abuses in U.S. immigration detention since January, highlighting troubling mistreatment of pregnant women and children. The probe, led by Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia, identified 41 cases of physical and sexual abuse, with pregnant detainees involved in 14 cases and children in 18.
The abuse reports involve facilities in 25 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. military bases, and deportation flights. Disturbing accounts include a pregnant woman who bled for days before a hospital visit, leading to a miscarriage, and instances of being forced to sleep on floors or denied meals and medical exams. Attorneys noted missed prenatal checkups for clients.
Children faced neglect; one U.S. citizen child with medical issues was hospitalized repeatedly while a Customs and Border Protection officer allegedly ignored pleas for help. Another child post-brain surgery was denied care, and a 4-year-old undergoing cancer treatment was deported without medical access.
Abuse reports were mostly found in detention centers in Texas, Georgia, and California. The investigation involved extensive interviews and site inspections. The findings were supported by news reports and public records from sources like WIRED, Miami Herald, NBC News, CNN, BBC, Louisiana Illuminator, and VT Digger.
The report marks an “active and ongoing investigation” into systemic mistreatment in U.S. custody. ICE did not comment on these findings. A separate WIRED investigation revealed repeated medical crises at ICE facilities, involving severe pregnancy complications and other emergencies.
The Trump administration is rapidly expanding its detention capacity, planning to more than double it to over 107,000 beds nationwide. New facilities, including a tent-style camp in Texas and a deal for accommodations in Indiana’s prison system, are underway.
The expansion has sparked lawsuits and criticism, with concerns about stripping detainees of due process and hiding conditions from scrutiny. Civil rights groups argue that the expansion perpetuates a system marred by neglect, pointing to incidents of miscarriages, untreated illnesses, and violence. Critics claim that contracts with private prisons and military facilities reinforce an expansive detention network designed to obscure migrant suffering.