ICE guards deployed pepper spray against 1,330 detained immigrants seeking basic necessities, with records indicating individuals suffered injuries.
Recent ICE records reveal a significant use of force within detention facilities, with 1,330 detained immigrants subjected to pepper spray. This action was reportedly in response to requests for food and care. The extent of injuries sustained by these individuals is detailed within ICE's own documentation.
These incidents add to a concerning pattern of increased force, as detailed in a Washington Post investigation. The analysis of hundreds of internal ICE emails, termed the "Daily Detainee Assault Report," shows that during the first year of Trump’s second term, detention center staff employed physical force or chemical agents against detainees at least 780 times. This figure represents a 37% increase compared to the prior year. The investigation, however, suggests these numbers are likely an undercount, excluding approximately 140 facilities that house a substantial portion of the nation's immigrant detainees.
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Recent events also highlight ongoing concerns. On May 1, 2026, Denny Adán González died at the Stewart Detention Center. This death followed demands from human rights organizations for investigations into three prior deaths in detention centers, including Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt, 27, who died on April 12, 2026, at the Miami Federal Detention Center. An autopsy for another detainee, Lunas Campos, confirmed death by asphyxia due to neck and torso compression, a finding that contradicts the agency's official narrative.
Incidents of Force and Protest
Reports from various facilities paint a consistent picture of force being used, often during protests or requests for better conditions. In August 2019, over 100 detained immigrants on a hunger strike at a facility in Louisiana were allegedly pepper-sprayed. Freedom for Immigrants reported that detainees faced "excessive use of force," followed by solitary confinement and blocked communication with families and legal counsel. ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox stated that most allegations of excessive force were false, asserting that actions were consistent with agency protocol. GEO Group, the facility operator, confirmed the deployment of pepper spray but denied using "rubber bullets, pellet or air guns, or similar devices."
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Similar tactics were reported in August 2024 at the Golden State Annex in McFarland, California. Immigrants engaging in peaceful sit-ins to protest overcrowding and lack of basic necessities like toilet paper and cold water during extreme heat were met with what they described as a "violent raid." Guards allegedly pepper-sprayed, zip-tied, and assaulted individuals, some while they were asleep. A civil rights complaint filed in response demanded an end to ICE's contract with GEO Group for this facility and called for the publication of all use-of-force incidents.
In January 2026, immigrants at Florida's "Deportation Depot" were pepper-sprayed on Christmas Eve. The facility, a converted state prison, has the capacity to house up to 2,000 individuals.
Broader Context and Criticisms
The use of force is not isolated to specific incidents or locations. In February 2020, video surveillance captured guards at the Adelanto Detention Facility in California pepper-spraying and assaulting eight Central American migrants who were on a hunger strike. Guards claimed the migrants formed a "rebellion" by refusing to return to their beds. The migrants sustained injuries, including a lost tooth.
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Concerns extend beyond the immediate use of force. In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Special Operations and Response (SORT) team at the Stewart Detention Center used pepper spray and pepper-ball guns on detainees protesting a lack of safety precautions. Social media posts from alleged facility employees appeared to celebrate the use of force.
Furthermore, reports suggest that even U.S. citizens have faced harsh treatment while detained by immigration agents. Between September 2024 and November 2025, over 170 U.S. citizens reported being kicked, dragged, and detained for extended periods, sometimes without being told the reason for their arrest.
An investigation into conditions at ICE detention camps, such as "Camp East Montana" in West Texas, has described them as akin to "psychological torture." Detainees reported being denied meals and medical care, with dust pervasive throughout the facility. In August 2023, government inspectors themselves described conditions within ICE detention facilities as "barbaric" and "negligent."
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