Senate: 85 Medical Neglect Reports in Detention Centers

A U.S. Senate investigation led by Sen. Jon Ossoff documented more than 80 credible cases of medical neglect and widespread complaints about inadequate food and water in federal immigration detention centers nationwide. The second report drew on over 500 reports collected between January and August and identified 85 reports of medical neglect and 82 reports alleging denial of adequate food or water. Many of the most credible reports came from facilities in Florida, Texas and Georgia and include allegations that detainees were denied insulin and asthma medication, left without medical attention for days, and forced to compete for contaminated or scarce drinking water, with some incidents reportedly causing life-threatening outcomes such as a heart attack. A Department of Homeland Security staffer told investigators ambulances have had to respond almost daily, and attorneys, advocates and detainees described withheld prescriptions and dangerous delays in care. Ossoff said the findings reflect systemic failures of federal detention oversight and called for reforms to ensure humane treatment and adequate medical care for detainees.