Four immigrant women detained at the Krome North Processing Center in Miami claim to have experienced a true "hell on Earth" while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The detainees, all with no prior criminal records, were transferred in February to this center usually reserved for men, according to a recent investigation published by
Chained by the chest, with no access to food, water, or bathrooms for hours, held in overcrowded cells and sleeping on the cold concrete, the women recounted their experiences in interviews and recordings, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, as they remain in custody.
"We smelled worse than animals", one of them recounted. "Every day more girls arrived. We would shout at them, we would beg them: 'You can't let them come.' There was no space," she added.
Chained, without bathrooms or food
The four women described how they were handcuffed at the wrists, waist, and chest before being transported in prison buses. In some cases, they were held in the vehicles for six to twelve hours, without access to bathrooms or food.
When they asked to go to the bathroom, the guards told them to urinate on the floor.
The psychological impact of the detention was devastating.
One of the women described in a letter to her fiancé what she experienced under the title "Hell on Earth."
The detainees were housed in small cells with up to 27 women, without privacy, insufficient bedding, and limited access to water and hygiene.
They slept on cement benches, in rooms monitored by cameras and with bathrooms lacking partitions.
One of the women recounted that she was not offered food for 36 hours. Several reported not having access to drinking water, and that they had to bang on the cell window for a guard to hand them a paper cone filled with water from a pitcher.
They also reported the lack of medical and health care: One woman waited 12 hours to receive menstrual hygiene products. Another developed a severe skin rash due to being unable to bathe.
The women are still detained, and their cases are ongoing. Despite the fear, some have chosen to share their experiences in the hope that something will change.
The accounts reveal a system that, far from being "non-punitive" as indicated by ICE policy, has become an environment of suffering, dehumanization, and neglect for women whose only "crime" was an immigration violation.
On March 10, at least four Cuban migrants with I-220A were detained during their immigration appointment with ICE. They were initially sent to the Broward detention center but were later transferred to detention centers in California. Two of them, remained in a migrant detention center in Otay Mesa, San Diego, California.
Deaths in ICE custody and pending investigations
These reports come to light shortly after two men died in the Krome center while in ICE custody, on January 23 and February 20, respectively.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations, ICE responded to USA Today that “it cannot substantiate specific allegations without the names of the individuals.”
In an official statement, the agency asserted: "ICE takes its commitment to promoting safe, secure, and humane environments for those in our custody very seriously. These accusations do not align with ICE's policies, practices, and standards of care."
Nevertheless, official reports have documented serious and ongoing issues at multiple detention centers in the U.S.
An audit of unannounced inspections at 17 centers between 2020 and 2023 concluded that "ICE and the center personnel have struggled to comply with aspects of detention standards, regardless of the administration in power."
Extension of immigration detention
Krome is one of the 130 ICE detention centers in the United States, many of which are operated by private contractors.
In the case of Krome, management is handled by Akima Infrastructure Protection through a $685 million contract. At the same time, the Trump administration is promoting the expansion of the detention system.
ICE has plans underway to use military bases as new detention centers, including a project for 30,000 beds at the Guantanamo base, which has faced legal and logistical hurdles.
Congress has recently approved an increase of 430 million dollars to ICE's budget to reinforce detention and deportation measures.
Inmates denounce inhumane conditions at the Krome migrant detention center
The testimony of the four women mentioned by USA Today is supported by videos shared on social media that have exposed the alleged inhumane conditions in which migrants are held at the Krome Detention Center, located to the west of Miami-Dade County.
The images, allegedly recorded by one of the inmates, show overcrowding, lack of access to basic services, and desperate pleas for help.
"We are at the Krome detention center here in Miami, Florida, we are being held, we are in the process of deportation, but we have been here for over twenty days; there are people who have been here for over a month who are unable to communicate," recounted an alleged inmate in one of the videos.
In the recording, dozens of men can be seen crowded into a small room, some sleeping on the floor and others on chairs, with barely enough space to move. The person filming does so discreetly, stating that there are "dozens of Mexicans sleeping on the floor, please share, share."
The Department of Homeland Security responded to the inquiries about the videos through a statement, indicating that they are aware of the reports and that an investigation has been initiated.
"The safety and well-being of individuals in our custody is a priority for ICE. Some centers are experiencing overcrowding due to the increase in detentions," stated the federal agency, as reported by Telemundo 51.
Human rights organizations have also raised alerts about the precarious conditions.
ICE, for its part, acknowledged in a statement that some of its facilities are experiencing "temporary overcrowding," attributable to the recent increase in the detained population.
The agency stated that it is taking measures to manage capacity, including the transfer of individuals to other facilities, streamlining processes, and collaborating with state and local authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Conditions in ICE Detention Centers in Florida
What do the women detained at the Krome North Processing Center report?
The women detained at the Krome North Processing Center report having experienced a "hell on Earth." They describe inhumane conditions such as overcrowding, lack of access to food, water, and bathrooms for hours, and being chained during prolonged transfers on prison buses.
How has ICE responded to these accusations?
ICE has declared that it cannot substantiate specific accusations without the names of the individuals involved and assures that its commitment is to promote safe and humane environments. However, official reports have documented serious and ongoing issues in several detention centers in the U.S.
What is the situation of the detainees with the I-220A form?
The I-220A form allows for release under certain conditions, but does not provide a definitive immigration status or immigration benefits. Those detained with this document face legal uncertainty, as they are not eligible to adjust their status under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
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