On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) pushed back against a report from NBC News claiming that detainees held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were facing hunger and receiving rotten food.
DHS labeled the allegations as “Fake News!” stating that claims about inadequate food and poor conditions were inaccurate. They mentioned in a post on a social platform that, “All detainees have access to a proper diet, treatment, and the means to communicate with their families and attorneys. The diet is certified by a nutritionist, and the safety and wellbeing of individuals in our custody are ICE’s top priority.”
However, according to the NBC News report, multiple detainees across various states reported food shortages and substandard quality, with issues noted by advocates for immigrants as well. Detainees mentioned weight loss and health problems attributed to these conditions.
A Salvadoran man detained at the Golden State Annex facility in California even filed a lawsuit, describing the food—specifically the ground beef—as flavorless and akin to “small pebbles.” His attorney relayed that the client reported finding moldy food in multiple centers. Additionally, the man’s wife, detained in El Paso, Texas, noted that many detainees were often given just two bowls of rice, still feeling hungry afterward.
In the aftermath, NBC News reached out for comments regarding DHS’s rebuttal.
Democrats have long criticized immigration policies from the previous Trump administration, including tactics like workplace raids and alleged racial profiling.
Critics specifically voiced concerns about a new facility called Alligator Alcatraz, which recently opened in Florida’s Everglades. After touring the site over the weekend, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) described the living conditions as “essentially packed with cages, humans to the walls, and 32 detainees per cage.”
Families of detainees are expressing frustration over rising temperatures, blackouts, swarms of mosquitoes, and ongoing food shortages.
In response to these criticisms, acting ICE director Todd Lyons addressed concerns during a recent interview. He urged elected officials to understand that these facilities are not resorts. “People aren’t here for a vacation; it’s a long-term stay,” he noted. He emphasized that ICE prides itself on detention standards while maintaining support for their partnership in Florida.
