Recent images captured by an unnamed whistleblower and released by Democratic legislators from the House Oversight and Reform Committee reveal what they describe as "horrendous" conditions inside the ICE administrative office in Miramar, Florida.
The photos depict detainees sleeping on the floor of a garage lacking proper ventilation.
Portable toilets filled to capacity with waste.
Individuals brushing their teeth outdoors using water from a hose.
The images were shared by Representatives Robert Garcia (California), Bennie Thompson (Mississippi), and Maxwell Frost (Florida), who also announced an investigation into a second ICE facility located in Orlando.
Miramar Facility: From Routine to Overcrowded Detention
The Miramar center was originally designed for routine immigration appointments, not extended detention.
However, under the mass deportation agenda of the Trump administration, it became a hotspot for overcrowding.
The Oversight Committee reported that the center held as many as 342 individuals at one point, despite its maximum capacity being 50—over six times the permissible limit.
Thomas Kennedy, a spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, voiced his concerns to NBC Miami:
"They are illegally detaining people for more than the 12 hours allowed by law. This isn't a detention center; they're using ICE administrative offices as one."
Kennedy added:
"More than 100 people crammed into these rooms, and what we see is just the garage. They have office rooms there with dozens packed in without showers, without bathrooms, sleeping on the floor, lacking proper food—a clear case of mistreatment."
Disturbing Details Revealed by Photos
Four portable toilets outside served more than 100 detainees. According to the report, these facilities were not cleaned and were overflowing with human waste both inside and out, with feces spilling onto the ground.
Other photos show piles of trash bags near tables where detainees eat, and individuals cleaning their teeth outdoors with water from a hose connected to a barrel.
Whistleblowers detailed that detainees—including the elderly, chronically ill, and families—are shackled with handcuffs, leg irons, and waist chains for up to 16 hours a day, without proper medical care or legal assistance.
One individual reported being held without access to his HIV medication.
A testimony collected by Univision summarized the dire situation: "It's horrific. They're treating people like cattle... Hundreds lying on a garage floor."
Lawmakers Demand Accountability and Expose Cover-Up
Representatives Garcia, Thompson, and Frost have sent a letter to ICE's acting director, David J. Venturella, and DHS Inspector General, Joseph V. Cuffari, with a deadline of October 5, 2026, to preserve and submit records.
The letter highlights that "ICE detains individuals for days or weeks in life-threatening, abusive conditions, including overcrowded cells, prolonged shackling, inadequate access to medical care and hygiene, insufficient food, and little to no legal access. Meanwhile, ICE attempts to cover up these horrific practices."
The report further disclosed that facility superiors warned staff of repercussions for speaking out and ordered Miramar authorities to stop calling 911 for non-emergency situations.
A Long-Standing Crisis
The issues at Miramar are not recent. In July, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz conducted a surprise inspection, finding over 150 people in four rooms designed for 56 each.
Migrant testimonies reported detentions lasting up to 10 days at the site.
The September report comes on the heels of revelations about other centers in Florida. Just a week prior, the DHS Inspector General released reports on Miami's Krome Detention Center and the now-closed Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, where an inspection documented 79 detainees confined in small outdoor metal cages of just 16 square feet.
Conditions at ICE detention centers and broader immigration issues continue to spark debate in the United States. Stay updated in our U.S. Immigration section.
Key Questions About ICE Detention Centers
What are the main issues at the Miramar ICE facility?
The Miramar facility faces severe overcrowding and inadequate conditions, with detainees sleeping on floors, using overflowing portable toilets, and lacking access to proper medical care.
Who is responsible for releasing the photos of the ICE facility conditions?
The photos were released by Democratic lawmakers from the House Oversight and Reform Committee, including Representatives Robert Garcia, Bennie Thompson, and Maxwell Frost.
What actions are being taken in response to the conditions at the Miramar facility?
Lawmakers have demanded accountability from ICE and DHS, calling for a preservation of records and an investigation into the conditions at both the Miramar and Orlando facilities.