The immigration detention system is classified as civil detention rather than criminal, however, the system mimics the criminal incarceration system. The unsanitary conditions, overcrowding and harassment housed in the centers paint a deeper image of inhumanity. Within these centers, reports of human right violations and abuse — including in-custody deaths — have risen. Through reports from migrants and visits from the media, there is no denying immigrants are treated carelessly. 

Unsanitary Conditions 

Spoiled food, dirty water, no access to showers and overcrowded conditions are common details of immigration detention centers. Reports from researchers at UC San Diego have analyzed the rampant mistreatment of immigrants in these centers: 

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“About 62 percent of families reported issues related to poor food and water quality, including not getting enough to eat. A little more than 45 percent reported issues like not being able to sleep because of overcrowding or because the temperatures were too cold. About 34 percent reported not being able to shower, not having clean bathrooms available and lacking a toothbrush or toothpaste.” 

Additionally, migrants at the border have limited medical services on top of healthcare workers being understaffed at these centers. This has resulted in various medical complications, delayed diagnoses and care times. With the influx of migrants at these centers, the conditions only worsen; mumps, measles, pneumonia, influenza and other respiratory diseases are just a few of the outbreaks documented in United States detention centers recently.

Other poor conditions such as lack of privacy, sanitation deficiencies, dirty clothing, inadequate meals, cold temperatures, and verbal and physical harassment from detention officers only worsen the mental and physical health of the people in these facilities.

In-custody deaths 

The severity of the conditions and complicitness of the U.S. government has left the government entirely responsible for at least 185 deaths since 2003. Deaths at the centers are frequently caused by spread of disease and the lack of health support; a report by CAP 20 confirmed two children from Indigenous Mayan communities in Guatemala died while in U.S. Border Patrol custody in December 2018.

Siblings Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, aged 7, and Felipe Gómez Alonzo, aged 8, died as a result of lack of medical attention from immigration officials. However, Customs and Border Protection agents attempted to blame the parents of the two for failing to report medical conditions. However, as native speakers of Q’eqchi’, the language barrier for the family was not considered a legitimate obstacle by CBP.  

This example demonstrates how crucial it is for U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as Border Patrol to be proactive in using language interpretation and providing medical screening for those unable to advocate for their needs in English. Unfortunately, the extreme lack of care has also led to several immigrants taking their own lives. 

Sexual harassment 

The reality of being held in a detention center means various reports of sexual harassment and assults cases. From January 2010 to July 2016, the Department of Homeland Security received 33,126 complaints of sexual and physical abuse — but only investigated 570. However, these reports are still not completely representative of all incidents of sexual harassment; many survivors do not report assaults due to fear of deportation, language barriers and lack of immediate action. 

Regardless of being in a detention center, instances of harassment and assault are completely unacceptable, especially coming directly from the government​​.

Separation of families 

When a child is under 18, they will not be housed with their parents. This is due to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which transferred responsibilities for the care and placement of unaccompanied children to the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Refugee Resettlement. Policies have only worsened the situation, as Trump published the “zero tolerance” executive order in 2017 — which was responsible for at least 2,654 children being separated from their parents. Reuniting children with their parents had not been intended with this rule. Therefore, separating a family opens the door to many problems of families not reuniting for years or still waiting to be reunited. Family separation presents how the government does not care about separating children from their parents. 

The truth of detention centers is far from what many believe. The U.S. detention system is more than flawed, it is inhumane. Regardless of their citizenship status, no one is deserving of the treatment that people in detention centers have had to endure. The government must stop covering its mistreatment. Before one attempts to justify detention centers, it is crucial to investigate the truth behind the centers. 

Heydy Vasquez is a sophomore writing about the lack support for undocumented students on college campuses. Her column, “Undocu-Tales,” runs every other Wednesday.