Revealed: ICE violates its own policy by holding people in secretive rooms for days or weeks

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has been found to be violating its own policy by detaining migrants in secretive holding facilities for days or weeks, according to a recent investigation.

These small, concrete rooms, located at ICE offices, federal buildings, and other locations across the country, are typically used to hold people after they have been arrested but before being transferred or released. However, ICE's internal policies prohibit detaining migrants in these facilities for longer than 12 hours.

In June, the agency waived this policy, allowing it to detain migrants in holding rooms for up to three days. Despite this change, data analysis has found that ICE continues to violate its own policy by holding migrants at these sites for multiple days at a time.

The investigation reveals that there is limited oversight of ICE's holding facilities nationwide, leading to concerns about unknown and potentially troubling conditions inside. Advocates have expressed alarm about the extended use of these facilities, citing risks of abuse, medical neglect, and due process violations.

A former ICE official described the situation as "wildly, wildly fucked up," highlighting the risk of sexual abuse or assault among detainees. The official also noted that prolonged detention increases the likelihood of such incidents occurring.

The investigation highlights a growing crisis in immigration enforcement operations, with officials relying increasingly on a network of holding facilities to process arrests. This has led to overcrowding and backlogs, resulting in people being held in these facilities for extended periods.

ICE's lack of transparency and accountability has been criticized by advocates and former officials alike. The agency's secretive nature and failure to provide adequate oversight have raised concerns about the conditions inside these facilities.

In Baltimore, a similar case is playing out in the Maryland federal court, where a lawsuit has been filed against ICE alleging medical neglect and overcrowding. The Trump administration's attempts to dismiss the lawsuit were unsuccessful, as attorneys argued that Congress had jurisdiction over the issue.

The government shutdown has further hindered congressional oversight of ICE and its holding facilities, preventing lawmakers from conducting inspections and raising concerns about the agency's ability to operate safely and constitutionally.

Overall, the investigation reveals a systemic problem within ICE, with the agency prioritizing its own interests over the welfare and rights of migrants in its custody.

ICE is totally messed up ! They're literally breaking their own rules and putting people's lives at risk. Whoa! These holding rooms sound super sketchy - 12 hours max, but they're doing it for days? That's just not right. And now with all this lack of oversight, it's like a Wild West situation in there . Advocates are totally freaking out and rightfully so, these facilities have major red flags.

The fact that a former ICE official called it "wildly fucked up" is wild ! It's no joke when you're talking about sexual abuse or medical neglect. They need to step up their game and be more transparent about what's going on in these facilities. The government shutdown isn't helping, it's just making things worse.

This Baltimore case is a total nightmare, overcrowding and all that jazz . It's like they're playing with people's lives over there. Congress needs to get their act together and start paying attention to this stuff ASAP. We need answers and we need them now!

ICE's secret holding cells are like the ultimate escape route for people fleeing persecution, you know? Like they're doing everyone a favor by keeping these tiny rooms under wraps – who needs transparency when it comes to justice, right? It's not like the migrants are asking for a spa day or anything, they just need some extra time to... um... process their thoughts while being held captive.

I'm so worried about these migrant people ... they're being held in tiny rooms for days on end, it's just not right . I mean, who makes a policy that says 12 hours is enough time to hold someone? It's crazy talk! And now they've got these holding facilities all over the country with no one watching out for anyone... what if there's some shady stuff going down in there?

And don't even get me started on the fact that it was just waived and nobody seemed to care . It's like they're just trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend everything is fine . But it's not, we need to be holding people accountable for these things!

It's a shame that nobody seems to be paying attention to this stuff... what happened to due process?

man...this is getting crazy ...ICE's got these holding facilities all over the country, but they're not following their own policies, and it's super alarming ...these little rooms are meant to be for like 12 hours max, but some migrants are being held there for DAYS on end ...it's not just about the time, it's about the conditions too - what if something bad happens in those tiny spaces? ...and the lack of transparency and accountability is just, like, wow ...the government shutdown has really messed things up, making it even harder to keep an eye on ICE ...we need some real answers here ...can't we just treat everyone with a little more respect and kindness?

Ugh, this is so messed up ! The fact that ICE is violating their own policy by detaining migrants for days on end is just shocking. I mean, who wants to be locked away in a tiny concrete room with no human interaction? It's like they're intentionally trying to create an environment where people are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency and accountability - it's like they're hiding something from us. The government shutdown is just making things worse, it's like they're covering their tracks and not letting anyone hold them accountable. What's going on here? It's wild that a former official is saying it's "wildly, wildly fucked up" - talk about an understatement!

this is super concerning, you know? those holding rooms are like tiny little dungeons they're meant to be temporary, but it sounds like some folks are stuck there for weeks or even months... that's just not right i mean, we all deserve some basic human dignity and respect, especially when we're already in a vulnerable spot like immigration detention. it's wild that ICE is basically doing its own thing and ignoring its own policies - that's some seriously bad management skills and what really worries me is the lack of transparency and oversight... how can we trust an agency that doesn't even know or care about the conditions inside those holding facilities?

this is so messed up i mean what's the point of having policies if they're just gonna be ignored right? it's like ice has a complete disregard for human life and dignity detaining people for days on end without any transparency or accountability is straight up horrific and don't even get me started on the lack of oversight what's being done to hold these people accountable? the fact that former officials are speaking out about the risks of abuse and assault is just another red flag warning sign we need real change ASAP

man this is wild the fact that they're violating their own policy like that is mind boggling... i mean we all know the system is broken but to see it on paper like that is crazy, what's up with the lack of oversight tho? it's not like they're doing this out of the blue, there's a pattern here and it needs to be addressed ASAP... and the part about prolonged detention increasing the risk of abuse is just heartbreaking we need to make sure our leaders are prioritizing humanity over policy

I'm totally on board with this ... wait, no I'm not! I think it's super messed up that ICE is violating its own policy like this. But at the same time, I'm like "hey, maybe they're just trying to do their job"? No, no, that doesn't sound right. It sounds like a total cover-up! And what's with all these holding facilities? Can't they just process people through regular channels? But on the other hand, I guess it's hard to regulate something as complex as immigration enforcement... Or is that just an excuse for them to ignore their own policies?

OMG this is soooo not okay!!! how can they just ignore their own policies like that?!? it's literally a recipe for disaster - abuse, neglect, medical issues... everything! i'm seriously worried about those people being held in those facilities for days on end. it's like, what even is the point of having policies if nobody enforces them?!? and don't even get me started on the lack of transparency... that's just awful anyone who thinks this is okay needs to take a long hard look at themselves

OMG, this is so messed up ! Like, how can an agency that's supposed to be all about helping people turn around and start fresh end up putting them through this? The fact that they're violating their own policies and ignoring human rights is just disgusting . I'm all for keeping the borders safe, but not at the cost of basic dignity and respect . We need to hold our government accountable and make sure these holding facilities are being run with transparency and care . This is a major red flag, folks - we gotta take action ASAP

This is just another example of how our immigration system has been turned into a game of cat and mouse between those in power and the vulnerable people trying to seek asylum or simply live their lives . ICE's lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable, it's like they're saying "we're above the law" . This is exactly what's wrong with our country's system - we can't even trust the people supposed to be helping us . What's next? Detaining people for longer periods without access to basic necessities like food, water, and medical care? It's a recipe for disaster! We need real oversight and reform, not just words on paper . And let's be real, if this happened under Trump it wouldn't even make the news for as long as it would under Biden . Something is seriously fishy here .

this is straight up messed up i mean whats next? holding ppl for days without proper medical care or food? that's just not right we gotta hold our govts accountable for how they treat ppl, especially the most vulnerable among us

omg u guys i was just reading this super disturbing news about ice holding facilities theyre literally detaining ppl for DAYS or weeks without any oversight which is super against their own policies and advocates are FREAKING OUT cuz there r concerns about abuse, neglect, and due process violations i mean who is in charge here? a former ice official even called it "wildly fucked up" and now theres lawsuits being filed left and right in maryland theyre suing ice for medical neglect and overcrowding im not surprised tho cuz ice has always been super secretive about their facilities and now the government shutdown is making it even harder to get info ugh its all so messed up

so like what's up with these holding rooms? I've been reading about it online and it seems crazy that they're supposed to only hold people for 12 hours but some people are stuck there for days . Like, how is that even possible? And isn't there supposed to be some kind of check-in or something to make sure everyone's being treated right? I feel bad for the people who are getting held in these rooms, especially if they're getting mistreated like the former ICE official said might happen . Also, has anyone else heard about this lawsuit thingy in Baltimore?

ICE is like that one aunt who just won't stop holding onto things for too long . You know, they're supposed to let people go after 12 hours, but nope! They just wanna keep 'em locked up for days on end. Like, what's the deal with that? I mean, I've heard of bad Yelp reviews, but this is like a real-life hostage situation . And don't even get me started on the lack of oversight – it's like they're hiding something in a concrete room (pun intended) . It's like Congress and lawmakers are saying, "Hey ICE, can you just chill for a sec?" but ICE is all, "Nope, gotta keep 'em locked up." I mean, what's the point of having a government if they're not gonna make sure everyone's being treated fairly?

omg this is so messed up like what kind of facility detains ppl for days without even notifying anyone? it's literally violating their own policy lol and now ppl r sayin its like a human zoo where detainees r left alone 4 long periods w/ no medical care or food etc. and advocates r all worried about abuse & neglect my heart goes out to these ppl who r goin thru this ruff time

so like i dont really know how to feel about this . on one hand, its super concerning that ice is violating its own policy and potentially putting people in harm's way . the idea of these small rooms being used for days or weeks at a time is just wild .

on the other hand, i think its kinda obvious that the system is broken . we're living in a country where immigration enforcement operations are relying on holding facilities to process arrests, which is basically a recipe for disaster . and yeah, the lack of transparency and accountability from ice is just plain sus .

anyway, i think we need to be having way more conversations about this stuff . like, how do we address overcrowding and backlogs in these facilities? how do we prevent abuse and neglect from happening in the first place?

can we pls just imagine a better system where people are treated with dignity and respect?

I'm shocked by this investigation into ICE's holding facilities . It's unacceptable that they're violating their own policy like this - it's not only cruel but also a recipe for disaster . Extended detention can lead to all sorts of problems, from abuse and neglect to medical issues and human rights violations . The fact that there's limited oversight is just icing on the cake . We need transparency and accountability in our immigration system, not secrecy and cover-ups .

And what's with this lack of leadership at ICE? It's clear they're prioritizing their own interests over the welfare of migrants . This is a growing crisis that needs to be addressed ASAP . We need to make sure that these holding facilities are safe, humane, and respectful of human rights . Anything less is just unacceptable .