DHS faces scrutiny under Biden-Harris for underusing detention facilities amid a criminal migrant surge.
At a Glance
- The US has the world’s largest immigration detention system, legally classified as civil, but mimicking punitive, prison-like conditions.
- Reports of civil and human rights abuses, including preventable deaths, are increasing in immigration detention centers.
- More than eight million migrants await deportation hearings while living freely in the U.S., with over 425,000 convicted criminal migrants included.
- DHS is criticized for utilizing only 37,395 out of 41,500 available detention beds, leaving over 4,100 beds unused.
Surge of Criminal Migrants Amid Unutilized Detention Facilities
Remember when AOC cried outside of a detention facility for illegal aliens? Well she might want to read this report, because the findings are damning. President Joe Biden has overseen a crisis not just at the border, but in our nation’s detention facilities.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under the Biden-Harris Administration, faces significant criticism for not fully utilizing its detention facilities despite a surge in migrants with criminal records. According to data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), over 425,000 convicted criminal migrants remain on the non-detained docket, including more than 222,000 with pending criminal charges. Over eight million migrants are awaiting deportation hearings while living freely in the U.S.
Despite congressional allocations for 41,500 detention beds, DHS is using just 37,395, leaving over 4,100 beds vacant. This underutilization has prompted calls for increased detention usage. The criticism comes at a time when the nation’s immigration detention system already faces scrutiny for its conditions and reported abuses.
And while many illegals are avoiding the facilities entirely, those who are unlucky enough to be placed in them are reportedly being treated extremely poorly.
Human Rights Concerns in Detention Centers
Reports of civil and human rights abuses, including preventable deaths, continue to rise in immigration detention centers. These facilities, legally classified as civil, often mimic punitive, prison-like conditions. Detainees face neglect, abuse, poor living conditions, economic instability, and disrupted social networks. The health impacts are profound, with many migrants suffering mental and physical trauma.
These conditions include medical neglect, delayed care, and limited access to health care services. Furthermore, physical and sexual abuse complaints in detention centers are frequently ignored, with many going uninvestigated. The economic and social stressors extend to high phone call costs, legal fees, and lack of interpretation services, exacerbating the challenges faced by detainees.
Imagine if this was happening under Trump. There would be uproar, wouldn’t there?
Spread this report far and wide so people know the truth!
