- Facility operates at 283% capacity with 1,700 detainees
- 3 deaths reported since January 2025 amid medical neglect claims
- DHS watchdog office suspended during critical oversight period
- ICE seeks $45B to quadruple detention bed capacity nationwide
The Krome Service Processing Center, America's oldest immigration detention facility, has become ground zero in the escalating battle over migrant treatment. Recent internal documents reveal the Miami facility housed 1,700 detainees in March - nearly triple its 600-person capacity - creating dangerous conditions that multiple sources compare to humanitarian crises.
Former detainee Osiris Vazquez described sleeping on concrete floors for two weeks: We became animals fighting for space. No showers, no clocks, just peanut butter and despair.His TikTok video documenting the conditions went viral, exposing systemic issues that oversight offices might have investigated before their abrupt closure.
The administration's detention expansion plan includes unprecedented measures:
- Proposed use of U.S. Army bases for migrant housing
- Contracts for 100,000 detention beds nationwide
- Leasing agreements with private prison operators
Medical professionals warn that overcrowding directly contributes to health crises. Ukrainian national Maksym Chernyak's death after untreated hypertension highlights systemic failures. Despite ICE policies requiring blood pressure medication monitoring, records show he received only basic painkillers before fatal complications arose.
Regional comparisons reveal troubling patterns. While Krome's population surged 31% since January, Texas' Dilley Detention Center reported similar overcrowding violations. Industry analysts note private prison stocks have risen 18% since ICE announced its expansion bid, raising ethical concerns about profit incentives in detention policies.
Legal experts emphasize that holding women at Krome - designed as male-only facility - violates the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The administration's suspension of oversight mechanisms complicates accountability efforts, with advocates calling for renewed congressional intervention.
