Migrants Face Dire Conditions, Prolonged Detention in US Centers

• Migrants in US detention centers, like Felipe Hernandez Espinosa, endure dire conditions including poor sanitation, insect infestations, and inadequate food.
• Prolonged detention has become more common, with over 70,000 people in ICE custody, and 7,252 held for at least six months as of mid-January, a significant increase from December 2024.
• Despite a 2001 Supreme Court ruling capping detention at six months, many migrants, even those willing to be deported or granted protection, are held indefinitely.
• The Trump administration's policy generally prohibits judges from releasing detainees, leading to despair among migrants like Hernandez, who sought asylum but now wishes to return to Nicaragua.
• Cases like Yashael Almonte Mejia, who became a father while detained for eight months, and a Mexican man held for a year despite winning UN torture convention protection, highlight the systemic issues.