Immigrants Facing Brutal Conditions in Trump Detention Centers

The administration's immigration policies are leading to widespread abuse and neglect of detainees, including those with no criminal convictions.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies have led to the detention of thousands of immigrants in harsh, inhumane conditions, even for those who have not been accused or convicted of any crimes. Immigrants are being subjected to abuse, neglect, and horrific living conditions in hastily constructed detention facilities across the country, with little regard for their health and safety.

Why it matters

The administration's treatment of immigrants in detention centers raises serious human rights concerns and questions about the legality and morality of its immigration enforcement tactics. The rapid expansion of the detention system, coupled with the clear indifference to detainees' wellbeing, could lead to further abuses and violations of civil liberties.

The details

The article cites several examples of the poor conditions in immigration detention centers, including a Russian family's account of 'worms in their food, guards shouting orders and snatching toys from small hands, and restless nights under fluorescent lights that never fully go dark.' It also describes the case of a Venezuelan woman whose 18-month-old daughter fell ill with COVID-19 and other respiratory issues due to lack of proper medical care and malnutrition in detention. Another report details a man who was denied pain medication and forced to sit for hours in 'blood and feces-soaked clothing' after a medical incident.

  • In December 2025, Kheilin Valero and her 18-month-old daughter Amalia Arrieta were detained following an ICE appointment in El Paso, Texas.
  • Amalia fell ill and was hospitalized for 10 days, diagnosed with COVID-19 and RSV, after going 'many days without treatment' in the detention center.

The players

Kheilin Valero

A Venezuelan woman who was being held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center with her 18-month-old daughter Amalia Arrieta.

Amalia Arrieta

Kheilin Valero's 18-month-old daughter who fell ill with COVID-19 and other respiratory issues while in immigration detention.

Donald Trump

The former president whose aggressive immigration enforcement policies led to the expansion of the immigration detention system and the harsh treatment of detainees.

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What they’re saying

“We left one tyranny and came to another kind of tyranny. Even in Russia, they don't treat children like this.”

— Nikita (NBC News)

“Because she went so many days without treatment, and because it's so cold here, she developed pneumonia and bronchitis. She was malnourished, too, because she was vomiting everything.”

— Kheilin Valero (ProPublica)

The takeaway

The Trump administration's immigration detention policies have led to widespread abuse and neglect of detainees, including those with no criminal convictions, raising serious human rights concerns and questions about the legality and morality of its enforcement tactics. The rapid expansion of the detention system and the clear indifference to detainees' wellbeing could lead to further violations of civil liberties.