Reps. Ritchie Torres and Adriano Espaillat Lead 37 Dems Calling on DHS IG to Investigate Conditions in Louisiana ICE Facilities

Yesterday afternoon, Congressmen Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) sent a letter to Joseph Cuffari, Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security, regarding alleged inhumane conditions at ICE detention facilities in Louisiana. They were joined by 37 of their House Democratic colleagues. 

On the letter, Rep. Torres said:

“The reports emerging from ICE detention centers in Louisiana suggest the possible existence of a shadow so-called justice system in America where due process is disregarded, human rights are violated, and accountability is nowhere to be found. The alleged conduct at these detention centers raises serious questions about whether the Trump administration is pushing the boundaries of the law beyond their limit and chipping away at the very foundations of American democracy in the process. When due process is treated as optional and human dignity as disposable, we all have a civic duty to fight back. The American people deserve to know whether DHS is operating beyond the law, no matter who is the victim.”

The full letter reads (PDF attached here):

“We write to request an immediate investigation into the conditions and practices at immigration detention facilities in the state of Louisiana, particularly those used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in partnership with private prison contractors.

“Over the past several months, multiple reports have emerged documenting serious violations of due process, endangerment of vulnerable individuals, and systemic neglect of medical and legal obligations within Louisiana’s immigration detention system. These include:

·         The expedited deportation of asylum-seeking mothers—some with U.S. citizen children and children undergoing active cancer treatment—without notice, legal review, or opportunity for family contact.

·         Reports of detainees being held in hotel rooms and staging facilities with no access to attorneys, family, or medical care prior to deportation.

·         Allegations of medical neglect, including women experiencing miscarriages without care, patients with cancer left untreated, and children detained in adult facilities.

·         Serious claims of abuse, including sexual misconduct by staff against women wearing religious attire.

·         A pattern of ICE and facility officials obstructing legal representation, withholding information about detainees’ whereabouts, and operating with little to no oversight.

“These conditions are not isolated but reflect a larger breakdown in DHS’s detention operations in Louisiana. According to civil rights attorneys and local monitors, thousands of people pass through these facilities annually, the vast majority without legal representation, independent medical evaluation, or basic human dignity.

“We urge your office to open an immediate investigation into: 

1.      The treatment of medically vulnerable and minor detainees in ICE custody in Louisiana; 

2.      The legality and due process implications of rapid deportation tactics and use of staging facilities;

3.      Oversight failures in privately operated detention facilities under DHS contract; 

4.      Compliance with ICE detention standards, federal law, and international human rights norms;

5.      Any retaliation or obstruction faced by attorneys and advocates attempting to represent detainees.

“Given the gravity and scope of the allegations, your prompt attention is critical. The American people deserve transparency and accountability from the institutions that enforce our immigration laws. Most importantly, the individuals in our custody deserve humane treatment and a lawful process.

“Please confirm receipt of this letter and provide an expected timeline for your office’s response.”