Torture of immigrants during the second Trump administration

See also: Immigration detention in the second Trump administration

Human rights experts argue Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers' treatment of immigrants in custody during the second Trump administration meets the legal definition of torture according to the UN Convention Against Torture. Immigrants have described detention facilities as "torture chambers,"[1] "hell on earth,"[1] and as an "endless nightmare."[2] Over 70,000 people are currently detained by ICE.[3]

One method of torture used against detainees is restraining their feet to the ground for hours outside in a small cage called "the box," exposing them to mosquitos, insects, and dangerous humidity levels without water. Another method is putting them in "the WRAP," a straitjacket-like full-body restraint that can restrict breathing used to punish detainees for expressing fear about being deported or asking for their attorneys. Guards create an atmosphere of "terror and humiliation,"[4] often berating detainees with racial or homophobic slurs or insults and banging on their cages. Sexual humiliation has also been used on detainees, and in one case a group of guards surrounded two detainees using the bathroom, undressed them, tied them up, and took naked photographs of them. Detainees are subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, are given scarce food portions often containing maggots, and are sometimes forced to sleep exposed to extreme weather conditions, insects, and fecal matter.

Background

These paragraphs are an excerpt from Immigration detention in the second Trump administration.[edit]

The second Trump administration has expanded immigration detention in the United States as part of the administration's mass deportation policy. On January 23, 2025, ICE began to carry out raids on sanctuary cities, with hundreds of immigrants detained and deported. The Trump administration reversed the policy of the previous administration and gave ICE permission to raid schools, hospitals and places of worship.[5][6] Fears of ICE raids have negatively impacted the agriculture,[5] construction,[7] tourism,[8] and hospitality industries.[9] ICE agents conducting raids frequently travel in unmarked vehicles, wear plainclothes and facial coverings, and refuse to identify themselves or present warrants.[10][11][12][13] The administration ordered the re-opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to hold potentially tens of thousands of illegal immigrants,[14][15] but has faced logistical and legal difficulties using it as an immigrant camp. The majority of detentions have been for non-violent matters.[16][17][18] Courts have ruled more than 4,400 times that the Trump administration is detaining people illegally.[19] Several US citizens have been detained and deported.[20] In October 2025, around 3,000 people detained by ICE in the Chicago metropolitan area during Operation Midway Blitz disappeared from ICE records with government officials refusing or unable to confirm their whereabouts.[21]

Amnesty International[4] and Physicians for Human Rights[2] have argued that ICE agents' treatment of immigrants in custody meet the legal definition of torture.

Amnesty claims,

According to Article 1(1) of the UN Convention Against Torture, an act constitutes torture if four elements are present: (1) intention, (2) infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering, (3) a purpose such as coercion, intimidation, obtaining information or a confession, or discrimination, and (4) a degree of official involvement.[4]

Torture is distinct from cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, which lacks one of these four elements and is not defined under international law.[4] Amnesty mentions how the UN Convention Against Torture obligates states to take measures to prevent torture in any territory under their jurisdictions, meaning under international law the United States is obligated to stop torturing immigrants.[4] Amnesty primarily analyzed two detention facilities in Florida: Alligator Alcatraz and Krome.[4]

Methods of torture

Restraints

Restraints have been used on detainees in a way that is "automatic, prolonged, and indiscriminate."[4] Amnesty argues restraints are used in situations where they are not necessary and are therefore used as tools to inflict physical and psychological suffering through humiliation and control.[4]

The main kind of restraint used is shackles, which in one case was used to connect a group of immigrants' feet to bus seats for about 28 hours while their hands were shackled to their waists and they were denied food and water.[4] Whenever prisoners leave their cages, they are shackled.[4]

At Alligator Alcatraz, detainees have been restrained to the ground for extended periods of time inside a small 2-by-2-foot cage called "the box." "The box" is outside, leaving detainees exposed to the temperature, humidity, and tropical climate of South Florida. "The box" is used as a punishment, and people inside are exposed for hours without any water and are exposed to insects and mosquitos.[4]

Another kind of restraint used is a full-body restraint called "the WRAP" (also referred to by agents as "the burrito" or "the bag"). "The WRAP" was developed by Safe Restraints, Inc.[22] and is used on deportation flights and also as a punishment on detainees for asking to speak with their attorneys or expressing fear about being deported.[23] One deportee left his flight with his legs swollen to the point he walked with a limp, describing the device as a straitjacket.[23] "The WRAP" has been used to suspend people at steep angles that can restrict breathing for hours at a time against the product's guidelines, and doctors warn it creates risk of "nerve compression injuries, reduced circulation, respiratory distress, and trauma."[24][22]

Prolonged solitary confinement

At Krome, prolonged solitary confinement—defined as solitary confinement for longer than 15 days—is used to punish detainees rather than as a last resort.[2][4] ICE officers say the maximum penalty of solitary confinement is 30 days, but they can give longer penalties while the individual is in solitary confinement.[4] According to Physicians Without Borders, the average duration of solitary confinement is about 30 days and some detainees spend over two years in solitary confinement.[2]

Prolonged solitary confinement is prohibited in the Mandela Rules in international law.[4] According to Physicians for Human Rights, solitary confinement can cause "PTSD, self-harm, and suicide risks," whereas prolonged solitary confinement can lead to "lasting brain damage, hallucinations, confusion, disrupted sleep, and reduced cognitive function" that can result in "enduring psychological and physical disabilities."[2] People with pre-existing medical and mental health conditions are at especially high risk of developing disabilities in solitary confinement, but many have been put into prolonged solitary confinement regardless.[2][4] In one group examined by Physicians for Human Rights, solitary confinement created new mental health conditions and symptoms among 67% of detainees it was used on.[2]

One participant was refused accommodations for his religion (non-halal meals and a prayer rug) as a punishment for speaking out about harsh living conditions in solitary confinement.[2] Others who reported issues in solitary confinement were pepper sprayed in retaliation.[2]

Medical neglect and denial of care

Among those in solitary confinement, 15% of detainees seeking mental health treatment were able to see a mental health provider in under a day, 31% in under a week, 8% in 1-4 weeks, 23% in over 4 weeks, and 23% never saw a mental health provider at all.[2]

Officials consistently deny medical treatment to detainees, including to a man who was bitten by a spider, developed an infection, and later needed emergency surgery because he was denied treatment.[4] Three guards made fun of a detainee recovering in the hospital from kidney stones, laughing at him when his wife, who did not know where he was, appeared on TV.[4] In a California City detention facility, one man with a chronic stomach ulcer was not provided with medication or proper diet to treat his condition, so he went on hunger strike hoping it would lead to receiving proper care; a week later, he began vomiting blood and fainted, triggering a code blue medical emergency, and he has since developed new medical conditions in custody.[1]

California City, run by private prison company CoreCivic, is "extraordinarily deprived of adequate medical care" according to a nonprofit attorney, and according to California's attorney general Rob Bonta, it does not have adequate doctors proportional to its detainee population.[1] Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff toured the facility and said the biggest concerns were about lack of medical attention, which it can take "weeks or months" for detainees to receive including for urgent matters.[1] One man was denied heart medications and did not receive aspirin for five days after being transferred, so he was rushed to the emergency room twice after experiencing extreme chest pain and paralysis.[1] One man with indicators of prostate cancer was scheduled to receive a diagnostic prostate biopsy, but after he was transferred, staff did not diagnose and treat his potential cancer, increasing its risk of metastasizing and becoming fatal.[1]

Emotional and sexual abuse

At Alligator Alcatraz, guards make racist and discriminatory comments to detainees (including the use of racial slurs), bang on their cages, yell at detainees, try to provoke detainees, and create an atmosphere of "terror and humiliation."[4] Around half of detainees in solitary confinement reported experiencing verbal abuse, harassment, or physical violence while in solitary confinement.[2] One detainee who identifies as agender was called homophobic slurs.[2] Another detainee reported being spat at and being told by guards he was a thief and made the country worse because he was black.[2]

Sexual misconduct has also been reported. One person in solitary confinement reported a guard coming into the room while he was showering and staring at him, and when he complained, he was forced to stay in solitary confinement for longer.[2] Another man who identifies as LGBTQ was asked by guards to perform oral sex on them.[2] Others reported being tied up in the bathroom naked and photographed by five or six officials who came into the bathroom unannounced.[2]

Inhuman detention conditions

Governor Ron DeSantis said "You'll have a lot of people that will deport on their own because they don't want to end up in an 'Alligator Alcatraz,'" which Amnesty interpreted to mean that facilities are intentionally kept in inhuman detention conditions (possibly satisfying the intentionality element of torture).[4] In February 2025, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem told immigrants "overwhelmingly, what encourages people to go back home voluntarily is the consequences," which The New Yorker interpreted to mean the same thing.[1]

According to Amnesty,

Individuals detained at "Alligator Alcatraz" are confined in large metal cages under large plastic tents, each holding up to 32 people and surrounded by chain-link fencing and barbed wire. [...] They were only given around 20 minutes of outdoor access a day but often went days without being allowed outside. The lights remain on permanently, and frequent power outages disrupt ventilation and air conditioning, creating alternating periods of extreme heat and cold. Flooding is common, and the men reported exposure to insects and mosquitos without any protective measures.[4]

Each cage of 32 people has 3 toilets which often overflow causing "fecal matter to seep into the area where people are sleeping" and requiring detainees to unclog the toilets with their bare hands.[4] Cameras are above toilets, which are in the open and offer no privacy.[4] Shower access is sometimes limited to under once per week, detainees are woken up in the middle of the night to shower, and when shower access is provided, the water is often very cold or very hot.[4]

Detainees were given only 15 minutes to eat each meal, and meal portions are extremely small, often causing hunger.[4] The food sometimes is full of maggots,[4] and one detainee reported large insects inside the water jug given to him.[4] Another detainee reported seeing a large snake in the tent and claimed a friend was bitten by a spider that laid eggs inside of him.[4] Access to telephones are restricted to 15 minutes per detainee.[4]

Some detainees have claimed poor conditions, including medical care denial, are used to encourage detainees to "self-deport" from detention facilities to their countries of origin before they have the opportunity to make it through the legal processes and complete their stay.[1] Amnesty claims "These conditions reflect a pattern of deliberate neglect designed to dehumanize and punish those detained at 'Alligator Alcatraz' with the aim of making their detention unbearable" so that detainees self-deport.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Peleg, Oren (January 28, 2026). "The Cruel Conditions of ICE's Mojave Desert Detention Center". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Endless Nightmare: Torture and Inhuman Treatment in Solitary Confinement in U.S. Immigration Detention (Report). Physicians for Human Rights. February 6, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  3. ^ Salomon, Gisela (February 9, 2026). "Migrants Face Dire Conditions and Prolonged Waits in U.S. Detention Centers". Associated Press. Retrieved March 16, 2026 – via PBS NewsHour.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac USA: Torture and Enforced Disappearances in the Sunshine State: Human Rights Violations at "Alligator Alcatraz" and Krome in Florida (Report). Amnesty International. 4 December 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Houghtaling, Ellie Quinlan (January 22, 2025). "Trump's Immigration Plans Are Already Wrecking the Food Industry". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  6. ^ Santana, Rebecca (2025-01-21). "Trump administration throws out policies limiting migrant arrests at sensitive spots like churches". Associated Press. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  7. ^ Aguilar, Julian (November 23, 2024). "Trump's deportation vow alarms Texas construction industry". NPR.
  8. ^ Yeğinsu, Ceylan (2026-02-20). "11 Million Visitors Short: Inside America's Continuing Tourism Slump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  9. ^ Anderson, Brett; Rao, Tejal; Wilson, Korsha (2025-01-25). "As Immigration Crackdown Looms, Restaurants Are Racked With Fear". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
  10. ^ Fadel, Leila (2025-07-10). "Masked immigration agents are spurring fear and confusion across the U.S." NPR. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  11. ^ Green, Rick; Sentinel, Keene (2025-10-16). "NH bill would prohibit masked police officers during ICE raids". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  12. ^ Rossiter, Emma (2025-09-21). "California bans most law enforcement including ICE from wearing masks". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  13. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (September 19, 2025). "What ICE agents can and cannot legally do during arrests". NPR.
  14. ^ Aleaziz, Hamed; Rosenberg, Carol (January 29, 2025). "Trump Says U.S. Will Hold Migrants at Guantánamo". The New York Times.
  15. ^ "Guantanamo could be used to hold up to 30,000 migrants". ABC News. January 29, 2025.
  16. ^ Hagopian, Alicja (June 23, 2025). "ICE is arresting more non-criminals than ever: Just 8% of detainees have serious criminal records". The Independent. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  17. ^ Tolan, Casey; Devine, Curt; Alvarez, Priscilla; Kamp, Majlie de Puy; Abou-Ghazala, Yahya (June 16, 2025). "Less than 10% of immigrants taken into ICE custody since October had serious criminal convictions, internal data shows". CNN. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  18. ^ Bier, David J. (June 20, 2025). "65 Percent of People Taken by ICE Had No Convictions, 93 Percent No Violent Convictions". Cato Institute. Retrieved June 23, 2025. New nonpublic data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicate that the government is primarily detaining individuals with no criminal convictions of any kind. Also, among those with criminal convictions, they are overwhelmingly not the violent offenses that ICE continuously uses to justify its deportation agenda. ICE has shared this data with people outside the agency, who shared the numbers with the Cato Institute.
  19. ^ "Courts Have Ruled 4,400+ Times That ICE Jailed People Illegally; Despite Rebukes, ICE Keeps Doing It". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 2026-02-25.
  20. ^ Danner, Chas (May 3, 2025). "All the U.S. Citizens Who've Been Caught Up in Trump's Immigration Crackdown". New York. Archived from the original on 2025-04-30. Retrieved May 4, 2025. It's not a matter of if U.S. citizens are getting caught up in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and mass-deportation efforts but, rather, how and how many. Some have just been collateral arrests and detentions, in which people are briefly questioned or detained by ICE agents, while others have been jailed for hours or days. Some U.S.-born children have been swiftly deported along with undocumented family members.
  21. ^ "Could ICE have 'lost' 3,000 immigrant arrestees in Chicago?". NBC Chicago.
  22. ^ a b "The Wrap Safety Restraint". Safe Restraints, Inc. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  23. ^ a b "ICE's use of full-body restraints during deportations raises concerns over inhumane treatment". AP News. 2025-10-14.
  24. ^ Mercer, Oliver (October 14, 2025). "ICE's Full-Body Restraints in Deportations Spark Concerns of Inhumane Treatment". VisaVerge. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
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