The Krome Detention Center in Miami, a facility situated on the edge of the Florida Everglades, has become the epicenter of rising tensions and fears of unrest among its overwhelmed staff due to a surge in migrant detainees.
As President Donald J. Trump intensifies his crackdown on immigration as part of his campaign pledges, the center’s population has ballooned nearly to three times its original capacity of 600.
Recent reports from employees within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shed light on the dire circumstances, with one staff member expressing alarm via text, stating, “There are 1700 people here at Krome!!!!”
The concern over safety within the facility is palpable, with staff members reluctant to voice their fears about the overcrowded conditions and the absence of proper oversight, fearing retaliation from their superiors.
Amidst these growing worries lies a broader debate unfolding within federal courts and Congress regarding the rapid pace and potential infringement of human rights stemming from the administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement.
Krome has been plagued by complaints about inadequate access to water and food, unsanitary living conditions, and medical neglect.
As allegations piled up, the Trump administration made a controversial decision to shutter three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight offices responsible for investigating these claims, further exacerbating the situation.
Documents shared with The Associated Press reveal not only the inmates’ grievances but also concerning accounts of 40 women being admitted into Krome, which is designated as an all-male facility, raising issues of compliance with federal laws aimed at preventing sexual assault in prisons.
Nationwide, the crisis is not isolated to Krome. Facilities across the country are grappling with similar challenges, including a critical shortage of bed space as detentions have surged to nearly 48,000, up 21% from the elevated levels seen at the end of the Biden administration.
The situation has reached a breaking point, with ICE announcing requests for bids to operate new detention centers in a bid to increase available space from approximately 41,000 beds to an ambitious 100,000.
For the first time, the federal government is exploring the option of housing migrants on U.S. Army bases, potentially testing the limits of a longstanding prohibition on military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Despite the controversy surrounding Trump’s policies, some statistics indicate that they might be making an impact.
In March, the number of migrants encountered at the U.S.-Mexican border dropped to its lowest level in a decade, declining from 96,035 in December 2024 to just 11,000.
However, the journey toward deportation for many of these migrants has become fraught with delays, as numerous legal challenges have stalled efforts to move individuals through the system.
Krome is one of only five facilities under direct ICE management, alongside others in Buffalo, Arizona, and Texas.
The facility’s concrete cellblocks have been filled to capacity due to the lack of alternatives.
After Trump assumed office, ICE faced pressure to round up migrants without sufficient plans for their confinement.
Most detainees are housed in facilities leased from local prisons or privately-operated centers, which often impose strict limits on the number of detainees they can accommodate.
As reports of mismanagement and dangerous conditions emerged, federal employees began documenting the deteriorating environment in weekly reports, attempting to alert DHS leadership to the growing crisis.
The independent Office of Immigration & Detention Ombudsman was established under Congress during Trump’s first term to mitigate concerns regarding treatment of detainees but has faced repeated leadership changes and administrative hurdles.
Just as issues at Krome came to light, the ombudsman’s office underwent a mass reorganization, placing 100 staff members on administrative leave, which officials attributed to efforts to streamline enforcement protocols.
“Rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations,” noted DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin about the ombudsman’s functions.
As the crisis unfolded, disturbing images surfaced, shared by detainees on social media platforms, showing migrants sleeping on cold concrete floors under tables.
One detainee, Osiris Vázquez, whose video plea garnered over 4 million views, described the horrifying conditions at Krome, stating, “We are practically kidnapped.”
Vázquez, who was detained after returning from a construction job, recounted being housed in cramped quarters with 80 other men, enduring an absence of sufficient hygiene supplies and food limited to peanut butter sandwiches.
“There was no clock, no window, no natural light,” he explained, illustrating the grim experience many have faced in such facilities.
Despite the harrowing conditions, Vázquez opted for self-deportation after enduring ten days in detention, yet his struggles did not end there; he faced serious health issues upon returning home.
Tragically, Krome has seen the deaths of three detainees since Trump resumed office, two of those fatalities occurring within its walls.
Maksym Chernyak’s death raised eyebrows following his imprisonment after a domestic violence arrest; he suffered from dire medical conditions exacerbated by detention, ultimately leading to his demise.
Chernyak’s widow claimed that her husband’s medical pleas were ignored, highlighting the systemic failures within the facility.
In response to growing scrutiny, ICE stated that it takes its responsibility to uphold dignity and respect for detainees seriously but did not directly address allegations of mistreatment or particular incidents.
Recent reports indicate that conditions have improved following a transfer of detainees from Krome, though advocates warn that the problem has only been shifted elsewhere in the immigration detention system.
An uprising at the Federal Detention Center in Miami last week underscores the escalating tensions throughout the detention network as detainees expressed their frustrations over extended waiting periods and overcrowding.
Accounts from the incident suggest that mismanagement during detainee transfers led to upheaval, necessitating the use of aggressive tactics by correctional officers to restore order.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that there was no risk to the public but acknowledged the strain placed on staff managing both ICE and prison operations simultaneously.
The financial implications of the current detention landscape have also raised eyebrows.
While ICE has yet to disclose details regarding plans for widespread deportations, spending on expanding facilities continues to rise, significantly benefiting federal contractors whose stock prices have surged since the start of Trump’s presidency.
However, attracting qualified personnel to operate these facilities presents an ongoing challenge, with low turnout for hiring events indicating a lack of interest in detention work.
Advocates and immigration attorneys continue to voice their concerns over the consequences of ongoing policies and the escalating number of detainee complaints.
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization has recently filed a lawsuit against DHS, aiming to contest the closure of oversight offices that were vital for monitoring detainment practices and conditions.
It is worth noting that Krome has been associated with substandard conditions for decades.
Originally opened in the 1970s to process Haitian boat refugees, it has frequently faced allegations of mistreatment, including serious accusations of sexual assault by staff members against female detainees in the early 2000s.
Despite attempts at reform, the facility’s reputation for neglect and abusive conditions persists, as evidenced by the 31% increase in detainees reported just months after Trump took office.
According to ICE data, Krome was reported to house 740 men and one woman as of March 31, 2023, reflecting the urgent need for evaluating and addressing its operational capacity and treatment protocols.
The ombudsman’s office, which has received more than 2,000 complaints this year, plays a critical role in safeguarding the detainees’ rights and ensuring humane treatment amid rising populations and decreased oversight.
With government officials and advocacy groups calling for urgent reform, the situation at Krome and other detention facilities remains a pressing issue.
A grassroots coalition organized a demonstration to advocate for the closure of Krome, rallying hundreds of protesters who branded the facility as an “American Gulag” and demanded systemic change.
Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has urged DHS to assess Krome’s circumstances, as did 49 Democratic members of Congress, seeking clarity on plans to manage overcrowding in ICE facilities.
The Krome Detention Center serves as a microcosm of the broader dilemmas facing the U.S. immigration system, illustrating the critical intersections of policy, human rights, and the administration’s enforcement strategies.
As advocates continue to fight for the rights of detainees, the coming weeks and months will likely reveal the government’s stance on rectifying the myriad issues exposed within the detention system.
image source from：https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/complaints-abuse-oldest-detention-center-miami/3599886/
