Medical Neglect in U.S. Immigration Detention Centers

An Albanian man found himself in excruciating pain at a New Mexico immigration detention center, pulling out his own tooth. A Honduran mother, held in Florida, was hospitalized for heart issues after being denied blood pressure medication. A Venezuelan man in Vermont suffered from flesh-eating bacteria after staff failed to take him to a doctor’s appointment. These are among hundreds of cases across at least 33 states where detainees accuse immigration detention facilities of inadequate medical care, as revealed by KFF Health News and The Associated Press.

Detainees claim they were denied timely medications for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and HIV. Their requests for help often went unanswered, leading to severe health deteriorations—including untreated cancers and seizures.

Struggles with Medical Neglect

The U.S. immigration detention system struggles to meet detainees’ medical needs, exacerbated by an increase in detentions under President Donald Trump. As of mid-January, over 75,000 immigrants were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), up from about 40,000 a year prior. KFF Health News and AP analyzed a large number of court filings using habeas corpus to challenge what is perceived as illegal detention by ICE.

Detention centers, including makeshift facilities, allegedly fail to meet medical needs. The investigation noted an increase in deaths, with 51 people dying in detention since Trump’s second term began, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Suicides have risen sharply. The DHS did not comment on these findings but has previously stated its policy is to provide appropriate care.

Personal Accounts of Neglect

Detainees provided personal accounts of neglect. A political dissident from Armenia, Vardan Gukasian, described his 13-month detention in Nevada, where he faced untreated high blood pressure symptoms. The city of Henderson defended that medical care is always available.

Another account involves a father of six from Georgia who suffered an E. coli infection due to poor conditions at the Stewart Detention Center. He narrowly avoided leg amputation after staff delayed medical assistance. The facility, run by CoreCivic, claimed no records matched his case.

Some detainees report even basic care was lacking—such as gauze for wounds or prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies. Legal blindness and disabilities were reportedly ignored, impacting detainees’ quality of life significantly.

Systemic Challenges

The legal process often doesn’t address medical neglect allegations, and many habeas corpus petitions focus on other issues. Some detainees, like Masuma Khan from Bangladesh, experienced inadequate medication access while detained. Khan received certain critical medications only intermittently.

Confusion and errors often delayed care. For example, a Romanian detainee with a complex medical history experienced reduced medication accessibility, resulting in multiple hospitalizations. A stroke incident during a video call highlighted the severity of these challenges.

Families Struggle Alongside Detainees

The impact of medical neglect extends to families. Cassandra Amador fears for her husband, Pedro Javier Amador Gutierrez, detained in Florida and struggling with high blood pressure. Many mornings, he informs her he did not receive his medication.

Considering the precarious conditions, some detainees contemplate returning to their countries despite the risks. Pedro, for instance, fears dying in detention without adequate care and may return to politically unstable Cuba.

These stories form part of a larger, ongoing investigation into how ICE handles medical needs in its facilities, spotlighting the critical need for reform and oversight.