Biden Urged To Close Detention Centers Before Trump's Mass Deportations

Nearly 200 migrant advocacy organizations have urged President Joe Biden to shut down immigration detention centers and grant humanitarian parole to certain detained migrants before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.  

In a letter addressed to Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, 198 organizations called for a reduction in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention capacity and the closure of several ICE facilities.  

The letter, sent on Friday, highlights extensive reports of "inhumane and abusive conditions" at detention centers, including allegations of physical abuse, inadequate food and water, poor medical care, and unsanitary environments.  

Trump, set to return to the presidency after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, has vowed to launch mass deportations within 24 hours of taking office. Advocacy groups fear this policy will further exacerbate conditions in detention facilities.  

Newsweek has previously detailed allegations of abuse in ICE facilities, including mistreatment, insufficient medical attention, and instances of harassment. The advocacy groups are urging Biden to freeze all ongoing contract negotiations with private prison companies to prevent ICE’s detention network from expanding.  

The letter also calls for humanitarian parole for "particularly vulnerable populations," including individuals with serious physical or mental health conditions, allowing them to remain in the U.S. while awaiting immigration court decisions.  

Organizations endorsing the letter include Al Otro Lado, Faith in Action, Human Rights Watch, the Immigrant Defense Project, and United We Dream, among others.  

This appeal follows Trump’s promise to conduct the "largest deportation" in U.S. history. His administration plans to treat the effort as a national emergency, deploying military resources to implement the policy. Trump has appointed immigration hard-liners to key roles, including Tom Homan as border czar, Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, and Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Policy.  

Jeff Migliozzi, communications director at Freedom for Immigrants, expressed concerns about the anticipated surge in ICE detentions. "We’ll monitor abuses, help detainees document their experiences, and connect them with legal resources. Our efforts will focus on release advocacy and strengthening internal organizing teams," he told Newsweek.