In the wake of expanded immigration enforcement under the second Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities have come under intense scrutiny for reports of harsh and dehumanizing conditions. A November 2025 New York Times Opinion video titled “Inside ICE Detention: Stripped, Shackled, Starved” brought these issues into sharp focus through firsthand testimonies from individuals who endured detention despite entering the United States legally.
The video features accounts from Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, Ayman Soliman, and Jasmine Mooney, who describe a system marked by impunity and cruelty. Detainees recounted being transported in chains, arriving at facilities that resembled prisons, and undergoing booking processes that included being required to strip naked—often in group settings—in front of others. Shackling was routine during intake, transfers, and even while eating, with some reporting prolonged restraint that forced them to consume meals from plates on the floor or in awkward positions after extended delays without food or water.
Broader reports from 2025 corroborate these experiences. Human Rights Watch documented abusive practices at facilities in Florida, including the Krome North Service Processing Center, Broward Transitional Center, and Federal Detention Center. Detainees described extreme overcrowding, sleeping on cold concrete floors under constant fluorescent lighting, denial of basic hygiene, and inadequate medical care. Food was frequently substandard—sometimes frozen, contaminated with insects or worms, or nearly inedible—leading to prolonged hunger and feelings of degradation. Prolonged shackling during bus transfers left people without access to food, water, or functioning toilets, exacerbating physical and psychological distress.
The surge in detentions followed promises of a large-scale crackdown on undocumented immigrants and criminals. However, data from sources like the Migration Policy Institute indicated that a significant portion—around 71 percent by late September 2025—of those held lacked criminal convictions. Many were law-abiding individuals pursuing visas, green cards, or asylum who were unexpectedly swept into custody. Oversight inspections reportedly declined even as detention numbers soared, with overcrowding straining resources and contributing to deteriorating conditions.
Tragically, 2025 marked one of the deadliest years for ICE custody outside of the COVID era, with at least 30 reported deaths. Advocacy groups highlighted persistent issues like medical neglect, rising suicide attempts, and mental health crises amid indefinite or prolonged holds. In some cases, even U.S. citizens faced mistaken or aggressive encounters, as illustrated by reports such as that of Aliya Rahman, a disabled Minneapolis resident who alleged violent arrest, ignored medical needs, and traumatic detention by federal agents.
ICE has maintained that detainees receive meals, medical attention, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, and toiletries, while emphasizing priorities of public safety and enforcement. Yet detainee testimonies and independent investigations paint a picture of a system overwhelmed and, in many accounts, operating with disregard for humane standards.
As detention populations reached historic highs—exceeding 70,000 by early 2026—these stories underscore ongoing debates about immigration policy, human rights, and the balance between enforcement and dignity in custody. The experiences shared in the New York Times video and echoed across reports serve as a stark reminder of the human cost behind expanded operations.
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