Migrants Languish in US Detention Centers Facing Dire Conditions

Prolonged detention and poor conditions lead some to give up on asylum claims

Feb. 9, 2026 at 6:23pm

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Migrants detained in US immigration facilities are facing dire conditions, including worms in food, non-functioning toilets, and overflowing sewage. Many have been held for months or even years without seeing a judge, leading some to give up on their asylum claims and request deportation. The Trump administration has increased the use of prolonged detention, with the number of immigrants held for over 6 months more than doubling since the end of the Biden presidency.

Why it matters

The prolonged detention of migrants, many of whom are asylum-seekers, raises concerns about due process and human rights violations. The poor conditions in these facilities also pose public health risks. This issue highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies around US immigration policy and enforcement.

The details

Migrants like Felipe Hernandez Espinosa have reported horrendous conditions in detention centers, including worms in food, non-functioning toilets, and overflowing sewage. Many have been held for months or even years without seeing an immigration judge, leading some to give up and request deportation. The Trump administration has implemented policies that have led to a sharp increase in the number of immigrants held for over 6 months, more than doubling since the end of the Biden presidency.

  • Hernandez Espinosa has been detained for 5 months at the Fort Bliss detention camp in El Paso, Texas.
  • Hernandez Espinosa spent 45 days at the 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration holding center in Florida.
  • Hernandez Espinosa's hearing was scheduled for February 26, 2026, after nearly 7 months in detention.
  • In mid-January 2026, 7,252 people had been in ICE custody at least 6 months, including 79 held for more than 2 years.
  • In December 2024, the last full month of the Biden presidency, 2,849 people had been in ICE custody at least 6 months.

The players

Felipe Hernandez Espinosa

A 34-year-old asylum-seeker from Nicaragua who has been detained for nearly 7 months.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration detention and enforcement.

Ana Alicia Huerta

A senior attorney at the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice who provides free legal advice to detainees.

Sui Cheng

The executive director at Americans for Immigrant Justice.

Sarah Houston

The managing attorney at Immigrant Defenders Law Center.

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What they’re saying

“I came to this country thinking they would help me, and I've been detained for six months without having committed a crime. It is been too long. I am desperate.”

— Felipe Hernandez Espinosa

“All are telling me: 'I don't understand why I'm here. I'm ready to be deported.'”

— Ana Alicia Huerta, Senior Attorney, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice

“The conditions are so poor and so bad that people say, 'I'm going to give up'.”

— Sui Cheng, Executive Director, Americans for Immigrant Justice

“They're just holding these people indefinitely.”

— Sarah Houston, Managing Attorney, Immigrant Defenders Law Center

What’s next

The judge in Hernandez Espinosa's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

The prolonged detention of migrants, many of whom are asylum-seekers, in poor conditions is leading some to give up on their claims and request deportation. This highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies around US immigration policy and the need for reforms to ensure due process and humane treatment.