Dozens of immigration detainees in a Texas jail have launched a hunger strike in protest against what they describe as dangerously overcrowded conditions and systematic medical neglect, The Guardian can reveal.
The protest began this week at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees are being held in facilities allegedly operating far beyond their intended capacity. Sources indicate some individuals have been detained for more than 12 months while their immigration cases remain unresolved.
'We Are Treated Like Animals'
One detainee, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, described the situation as "unbearable."
"We are treated like animals here," the individual said. "There are too many people in too small a space, and when someone gets sick, it takes days to see a doctor. We have no choice but to protest with our bodies."
Systemic Failures in Detention System
The hunger strike highlights growing concerns about the US immigration detention system, which has faced repeated criticism from human rights organisations for:
- Severe overcrowding in multiple facilities
- Inadequate access to medical care
- Prolonged detention without resolution
- Poor sanitation and living conditions
Advocacy groups have documented numerous cases where detainees with serious health conditions have experienced significant delays in receiving treatment, sometimes with devastating consequences.
ICE Response and Ongoing Situation
ICE officials have acknowledged the protest but maintain that they "provide timely and appropriate medical care" to all detainees. The agency stated it continues to monitor the situation while proceeding with removal operations.
Meanwhile, legal representatives for the detainees report growing concerns about the health of those participating in the hunger strike. "These are desperate measures taken by desperate people," said one immigration attorney familiar with the case. "They feel they have no other way to make their voices heard."
The protest comes amid ongoing debates about US immigration policy and the treatment of those awaiting decisions on their immigration status.
