Dozens of individuals held in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana have initiated a hunger strike, protesting what they describe as inhumane conditions and excessively prolonged detention periods.
The protest, which began earlier this week at the Winn Correctional Center, involves at least 39 detainees who are refusing meals to draw attention to their plight. Organisers of the strike have issued a list of demands, highlighting several critical issues within the facility.
Core Grievances Behind the Protest
According to advocates and statements from those involved, the hunger strike was triggered by a combination of factors that have created a boiling point of frustration.
- Inadequate Medical Care: Detainees report being denied essential medications and timely access to medical professionals for serious health conditions.
- Prolonged and Indefinite Detention: Many have been held for months, and even years, without a clear resolution to their immigration cases, leading to severe psychological distress.
- Poor Sanitation and Food Quality: Complaints include unsanitary living conditions and food that is often inedible.
- Lack of Due Process: Concerns over limited access to legal resources and proper representation.
Official Response and Denials
In response to inquiries, ICE officials have publicly denied the occurrence of a coordinated hunger strike. An agency statement maintained that "ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference" and that "all individuals housed at the Winn Correctional Center are receiving appropriate medical care and access to legal resources."
However, this official account is starkly contradicted by testimony from hunger strike participants and their families, as well as advocacy groups monitoring the situation.
A Pattern of Concern
The Winn Correctional Center, which is operated by the private prison corporation LaSalle Corrections under a contract with ICE, has a troubled history. It has previously faced lawsuits and allegations of medical neglect and abusive practices.
This latest protest echoes similar hunger strikes at other ICE detention facilities across the United States in recent years, pointing to systemic issues within the sprawling immigration detention network.
Advocacy groups, including Amnesty International and the Southern Poverty Law Center, are calling for immediate independent oversight of the facility and urging lawmakers to address the broader policies of indefinite detention.
