Over 500 Human Rights Abuses Reported in U.S. Immigration Detention, Including Pregnant Women and Children
Immigration detention centers in the U.S. are once again under fire. A recent investigation by Senator Jon Ossoff’s office documented more than 500 credible reports of human rights violations in custody. NBC News reported that the findings include allegations of abuse against pregnant women, children, and detainees facing medical emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, is rejecting the claims, calling them “false” and “irresponsible.”
The clash between lawmakers, immigrant advocates, and DHS underscores how high the stakes are inside facilities that hold tens of thousands of people daily. With the second Trump administration intensifying arrests and expanding detention, overcrowding has reached record highs, according to The Guardian. The scale is historic, and so are the accounts of suffering.
What the report says about immigration detention centers
According to NBC News, Ossoff’s office said it “identified 510 credible reports of human rights abuse” in immigration custody. At least 41 cases involved allegations of physical or sexual abuse. Eighteen cases involved children. Fourteen reports described mistreatment of pregnant women.
Among the most disturbing allegations: a pregnant detainee in Georgia miscarried after waiting days for medical attention, her attorney Meredyth Yoon told NBC. The woman described “horrific” and “terrible conditions,” including overcrowding and being forced to sleep on the floor. She said detainees lacked adequate food, medical care, and consistent access to their families or legal support.
Ossoff told NBC: “Regardless of our views on immigration policy, the American people do not support the abuse of detainees and prisoners… It’s more important than ever to shine a light on what’s happening behind bars and barbed wire, especially and most shockingly to children.”
Pregnant women and children inside immigration detention centers
The report detailed pregnant detainees being denied medical checkups, urgent care, and basic accommodations. One detainee told Ossoff’s staff she was told to “just drink water” instead of receiving a checkup. Another woman, six months pregnant, told Rep. Ayanna Pressley she nearly miscarried twice after being detained in Louisiana, according to the investigation.
Children’s experiences also stand out. NBC News reported that an 11-year-old U.S. citizen girl recovering from a brain tumor was denied medical care while in custody with her parents. In another case, a four-year-old boy with stage 4 cancer was deported with his mother to Honduras without access to medicine.
The Guardian highlighted how children as young as two, including U.S. citizens, faced mistreatment in detention. The cases included inadequate medical care, child separation, and prolonged exposure to unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
DHS pushes back on claims about immigration detention centers
DHS has strongly disputed the findings. In a public statement on August 7, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: “Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false.” She emphasized that detainees receive proper meals, medical treatment, and opportunities to contact lawyers and family members.
The statement also claimed that ICE detention standards surpass those of many U.S. prisons. McLaughlin added that pregnant women receive prenatal care, nutritional support, and accommodations, describing allegations of mistreatment as “garbage.”
DHS also denied obstructing congressional oversight. The department said Ossoff and his staff have been allowed tours of multiple facilities and were never blocked from access.
Human Rights Watch adds to the picture
Human Rights Watch released its own report in July, focusing on detention centers in Florida. The organization documented extreme overcrowding, denial of medical care, and degrading treatment, such as forcing detainees to eat while shackled. Some detainees reported being held in solitary confinement after seeking mental health support.
The report also described freezing cells where people slept on concrete floors under fluorescent lights. At Krome North Service Processing Center, detainees said they were denied medication for chronic illnesses, with some cases linked to deaths.
Researchers concluded that conditions violated both U.S. detention standards and international human rights law. The findings reinforced what Ossoff’s investigation uncovered, creating a fuller picture of systemic neglect.
Immigration detention centers under growing scrutiny
According to The Guardian, average daily arrests in June 2025 were up 268 percent compared with the previous year. More than 56,000 people are in immigration detention daily, the highest number in U.S. history. Many have no criminal record.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups warn that overcrowding and mass detention policies are driving abusive conditions. Their recommendations call for limiting the use of detention, ending solitary confinement, and ensuring timely medical care.
Ossoff’s office argues that transparency and oversight remain urgent. Attorneys and detainees told investigators about guards using “stress positions” as punishment in Texas, emergency calls reporting sexual assault in South Texas, and overcrowded cells in Georgia. These accounts cut against DHS’s claims of high standards.
A debate far from over
The allegations and DHS denials reflect a deeper political fight over how the U.S. treats immigrants in custody. With the detention population at record levels, the gap between official statements and lived realities remains wide.
For those inside immigration detention centers, the issue is not theoretical. It is about food, safety, medical care, and dignity. As Ossoff’s investigation continues, so do the voices of detainees, attorneys, and advocates calling for accountability.
