Key Takeaways
• ICE detention centers report moldy food, reduced portions, and unsafe water causing hunger and health risks in July 2025.
• New detainees at Adelanto sleep on floors without supplies for up to 10 days amid overcrowding.
• Congress and DHS OIG increased oversight after inspections, with ICE agreeing to implement 10 improvement recommendations.
Immigrants held in overcapacity ICE detention centers across the United States 🇺🇸 are reporting severe hunger, poor food quality, and worsening living conditions as of July 2025. These problems have drawn urgent attention from lawmakers, civil rights groups, and federal investigators, who are now pushing for immediate reforms to protect detainees’ health and rights.
Mounting Reports of Hunger and Unsafe Food
In June 2025, lawmakers and advocates visiting the Adelanto detention center in California found that detainees were served moldy food, denied clean water for hours, and sometimes received dinner as late as 10 p.m. New arrivals at Adelanto slept on floors without blankets or pillows, sometimes for up to 10 days, and went without clean clothes or underwear. Detainees described the food as “unsustainable” and said the water tasted like Clorox, raising serious health concerns.
Similar reports have come from other ICE detention centers in Washington, Texas, and Louisiana. In March 2025, detainees at these facilities said that food portions had shrunk since late January, with meals often consisting of little more than bread and salad. Many said they were “losing a lot of weight” and that both the quality and quantity of food had dropped as more people were detained. Delays in medical care and shortages of hygiene products were also widely reported.
At the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, a formal complaint filed in January 2025 described women being left hungry, cold, and in an abusive environment. Detainees there reported inadequate food portions, spoiled food, undrinkable water, and denial of food that met their religious or health needs. Hygiene supplies were in short supply, and detainees described the environment as hostile and abusive.
Overcrowding and Delayed Medical Care
The problems with food quality and hunger are made worse by overcrowding in ICE detention centers. At Adelanto, new detainees slept on floors and lacked basic supplies for up to 10 days. At the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, which holds at least 700 people, daily meals sometimes consisted of “five nuggets, two breads, [and] a cup of rice.” In the Northwest ICE Processing Center, detainees reported receiving half the previous food portions—such as one corn dog instead of two—and delays in meal times, sometimes as late as 9 or 10 p.m.
Medical care has also suffered. Detainees with chronic conditions reported waiting days or even months for medical attention, with pain medication and surgery often delayed. These delays put detainees at risk of serious health problems, especially when combined with poor nutrition and unsanitary living conditions.
Official Standards and Oversight
ICE’s 2025 National Detention Standards require that food service programs meet quality and safety standards. Facilities must notify detainees immediately if water supplies are unsafe, maintain sanitary conditions, and provide adequate hygiene supplies. However, detainees and advocates say these standards are not being met in practice.
Congress has stepped up oversight in response to these reports. In June 2025, several members of Congress conducted unannounced inspections of ICE detention centers, citing differences between official accounts and what detainees described. Lawmakers stressed their legal right to conduct such oversight without prior notice and highlighted ongoing concerns about food, water, medical care, and detainee rights.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) also released a report in June 2025 on the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility, making 10 recommendations to improve detainee care. ICE management accepted all of these recommendations, signaling a willingness to address at least some of the problems.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Disputes
ICE and its two largest private contractors, CoreCivic and GEO Group, claim they follow federal standards and undergo regular audits. However, detainees and advocates strongly dispute these claims, pointing to daily experiences of hunger, neglect, and unsafe conditions.
Members of Congress, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Emily Randall, Dexter, and LaMonica McIver, have spoken out in 2025 about the “heartbreaking” and “inhumane” conditions in ICE detention. They have promised to continue oversight and push for systemic reforms.
Civil rights groups, such as the ACLU of Louisiana and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, have filed formal complaints and called for immediate investigations into food and living conditions at ICE detention centers.
Health, Legal, and Human Rights Implications
The health risks for detainees are serious. Many are experiencing weight loss, malnutrition, and worsening chronic health conditions due to inadequate food and delayed medical care. Denial of food that meets religious or health needs, lack of access to legal counsel, and poor living conditions may violate U.S. constitutional protections and international human rights standards.
Congressional oversight is increasing, with lawmakers conducting unannounced visits and demanding more transparency and accountability from ICE and its contractors. The DHS OIG’s recommendations are expected to bring some improvements, but advocates say much more needs to be done.
Complaint Mechanisms and How to Report Issues
Detainees and advocates have several ways to report problems in ICE detention centers:
- Filing Complaints: Complaints can be filed with the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which investigates reports of abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions.
- Congressional Offices: Constituents and detainees can contact their representatives to request oversight or report concerns.
- ICE Detainee Reporting and Information Line: Detainees or their families can call 1-888-351-4024 to report issues or seek information.
- ICE National Detention Standards: The official standards for food quality, sanitation, and emergency notifications are available on the ICE website.
Multiple Perspectives: Detainees, ICE, Lawmakers, and Advocates
- Detainees report hunger, weight loss, spoiled food, and lack of access to basic hygiene and medical care.
- ICE and Contractors assert compliance with federal standards and regular audits, denying allegations of systemic neglect.
- Lawmakers and Advocates cite direct testimony and unannounced inspections as evidence of widespread, ongoing violations and call for urgent reforms.
- DHS OIG recommends improvements and increased oversight, with ICE management agreeing to implement changes.
Background: Chronic Problems and Legal Precedents
Many of these problems are not new. Reports indicate that conditions have worsened in 2025 due to increased detainee populations and resource shortages. Past lawsuits and state investigations have found systemic failures in food, medical care, and detainee treatment at ICE facilities. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these ongoing issues highlight the need for stronger oversight and enforcement of existing standards.
Recent Data and Specific Examples
- Adelanto Detention Center: Over the last two weeks (June 2025), new detainees slept on floors and lacked basic supplies for up to 10 days.
- South Louisiana ICE Processing Center: Holds at least 700 detainees, with reports of daily food consisting of “five nuggets, two breads, [and] a cup of rice.”
- Northwest ICE Processing Center: Detainees reported receiving half the previous food portions (e.g., one corn dog instead of two), and delays in meal times, sometimes as late as 9–10 p.m.
- Medical Delays: Detainees with chronic conditions reported waiting days or even months for medical attention, with pain medication and surgery often delayed.
Policy Implications and Calls for Reform
The ongoing problems with ICE detention, food quality, and overcrowding have led to several policy debates:
- Health and Safety: Poor food quality and hunger put detainees at risk of malnutrition and worsening health problems.
- Legal Rights: Denial of food that meets religious or health needs, lack of access to legal counsel, and poor living conditions may violate constitutional and human rights protections.
- Oversight and Accountability: Lawmakers are demanding more transparency and accountability from ICE and its contractors, with increased oversight and legislative action expected.
Solution-Oriented Steps and Recommendations
To address these problems, several steps are being taken or proposed:
- Implementing OIG Recommendations: ICE is expected to implement the June 2025 OIG recommendations at the Buffalo facility and possibly other centers.
- Increased Congressional Oversight: Lawmakers have pledged ongoing, unannounced inspections and legislative action to improve conditions.
- Advocacy and Legal Action: Civil rights groups continue to file complaints and push for investigations into food and living conditions.
- Improved Complaint Mechanisms: Detainees and advocates are encouraged to use official channels to report problems and seek help.
What Detainees and Families Can Do
If you or a loved one is affected by poor food quality or unsafe conditions in ICE detention, you can:
- File a complaint with the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties through the official DHS website.
- Contact your congressional representative to request oversight or report concerns.
- Call the ICE Detainee Reporting and Information Line at 1-888-351-4024 for help or information.
Looking Ahead: Will Conditions Improve?
Lawmakers, advocates, and federal investigators are now focused on improving conditions in ICE detention centers. The implementation of OIG recommendations and increased congressional oversight may bring some relief, but advocates warn that real change will require ongoing pressure and systemic reforms.
Detainees, their families, and advocates are encouraged to keep reporting problems and pushing for better conditions. As more attention is paid to these issues, there is hope that food quality, medical care, and living conditions will improve for those held in ICE detention.
Key Takeaways for Affected Communities
- Food quality and hunger are urgent problems in overcapacity ICE detention centers, with reports of moldy food, small portions, and unsafe water.
- Overcrowding and delayed medical care make these problems worse, putting detainees’ health at risk.
- Lawmakers and advocates are increasing oversight and pushing for reforms, but detainees and families should continue to report problems and demand accountability.
- Official complaint mechanisms are available, including the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the ICE Detainee Reporting and Information Line.
- Ongoing advocacy and legal action are needed to ensure that ICE and its contractors meet federal standards and protect detainees’ rights.
For more information on ICE detention standards and how to file a complaint, visit the official ICE National Detention Standards page.
As the situation develops, affected communities should stay informed, use available resources, and continue to speak out about unsafe or inhumane conditions in ICE detention centers.
Learn Today
ICE Detention Centers → Facilities that hold immigrants under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) → Federal office investigating and recommending improvements in Department of Homeland Security operations.
Adelanto Detention Center → A large ICE facility in California with reported overcrowding and substandard conditions.
National Detention Standards → Federal requirements governing food quality, sanitation, and detainee treatment in ICE centers.
CoreCivic and GEO Group → Private contractors managing many ICE detention centers, subject to federal standards and audits.
This Article in a Nutshell
In July 2025, ICE detention centers face severe overcrowding and poor food conditions, including moldy meals and unsafe water. Detainees experience hunger, health risks, and delayed medical care as lawmakers and civil rights groups pressure ICE for urgent reforms and accountability.
— By VisaVerge.com
