ICE to Close or Scale Back Use of Four Immigration Detention Facilities, Citing Concerns over Conditions, Treatment of Detained Individuals

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022 — Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it will close or scale back four detention facilities over concerns about conditions at those centers. ICE plans to close the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, pause the use of Glades County Detention Center in Florida, and reduce the number of beds at the Alamance County Detention Facility in North Carolina and the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana.  

The American Immigration Council, the Immigration Justice Campaign, and other partners and advocates across the country have repeatedly voiced concerns about the treatment of individuals who are detained in these and other facilities, citing lack of adequate medical care, racial discrimination, excessive use of force, and other inadequate and inhumane conditions. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General called for the immediate removal of all detainees from the Torrance County Detention Facility in New Mexico, citing concerns — reported by the Council in a series of complaints — over treatment of individuals detained in the facility. 

The following statement is from Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council:  

“For years, the Council has documented the inhumane treatment of people held in immigration detention, including racial discrimination, excessive use of force, and inadequate medical care. We welcome today’s announcement from ICE, which acknowledges the existence of these problems and commits to closing down and scaling back its operations at multiple detention facilities.  

“Today’s welcome action only underscores the need to address similar issues around the country as many facilities face nearly identical problems to the ones that caused ICE to take action today. Just last week, the DHS Office of Inspector General called for immediately relocating all individuals held at the Torrance County Detention Facility, but ICE has refused to follow the watchdog’s urgent warning.” 

“We will continue to fight for an immigration system that is fair, just, humane, and treats all people with dignity and respect.” 

Additional Council resources documenting conditions in ICE detention facilities: