An investigation into 911 calls from some of the largest US immigration detention centres has found reports of serious medical emergencies, suicide attempts and sexual assault allegations as the detained population continues to rise.
The investigation reportedly found that at least 60% of the ICE centres analysed had reports involving serious pregnancy complications, suicide attempts or sexual assault allegations. Stewart Detention Center in rural Georgia stood out, with its population increasing by 10% while medical emergencies more than tripled.
The facility has also recorded more in-custody deaths since 2017 than any other detention centre in the country, according to the investigation. Records obtained from local sheriff's departments and emergency medical services offered a rare look inside facilities that are difficult for attorneys and advocates to access.
The findings also suggest that 911 records capture only part of the problem, with families, lawyers and formerly detained people describing further cases where medical care was allegedly delayed or unavailable.
Stewart Detention Centre Raises Alarms
The investigation conducted by WIRED highlighted that Stewart's remote location is a major concern. The centre is in a rural Georgia county, hours from advanced medical care, while local hospitals have closed and emergency response times can be long.
One EMS record reportedly involved a pregnant woman allegedly spitting up blood. It took more than two hours to clear the call. Two people at Stewart, or on their way there, also died, according to ICE, including one who died by suicide early last month.
Other 911 records in the report showed calls being abruptly dropped. In one case, a woman managed to call emergency services and repeatedly asked for help, saying, 'I need help, a UTA.' A staff member later answered a callback and told the dispatcher that a detainee had made the call. No ambulance was sent.
Families reportedly described similar concerns. Mildred Pierre said her fiancé, a double-amputee, broke his prosthetic limbs in a fall and waited days to be seen by medical staff. Kylie Chinchilla said her daughter, a nursing student with scoliosis detained at Stewart, has been left sleeping on the floor while in pain, with parts of her face going numb.
The reported investigation also found that 911 calls in 2025 included multiple references to sexual assaults, including one allegation of sexual assault by a staff against a detainee.
Overcrowding and Reduced Oversight
The detained ICE population has reportedly risen by more than 48% since January, exceeding 59,000 people. Experts and immigration attorneys told investigators that the increase has placed pressure on medical units and staffing, particularly as people with existing health conditions enter detention.
People are also reportedly being moved between remote facilities, sometimes across the country. One person reportedly described being transferred from Buffalo, New York, to Adelanto, California, within days, leaving him far from his existing community and legal representation.
Most of the centres reviewed are operated by private prison companies, GEO Group and CoreCivic. Under the administration's expanded detention strategy, the companies have secured contracts including no-bid agreements to reopen shuttered prisons.
GEO reportedly expects more than $70 million (£51.1 million) in annual revenue from one new facility, while CoreCivic is opening or reopening multiple sites. Both companies said their facilities are staffed by licensed medical professionals and follow audits and national standards.
The problems, however, predate the current administration. There is a long record of reported sexual abuse and other mistreatment in ICE detention.
The investigation also found that oversight offices within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for investigating such allegations have been reduced, including the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
An advocate described the situation as a 'black box of impunity', reflecting concerns about how allegations are tracked and investigated as detention numbers continue to increase.
