The federal prison system is holding about 700 immigration detainees at four facilities as of Wednesday, part of a Trump administration strategy that has drawn objections Senate Democrats. Kathleen Toomey of the Federal Bureau of Prisons disclosed the figure during a hearing of the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, giving new insight into the scope of the agency’s role in implementing President Trump’s tough-on-immigration approach, Roll Call Toomey said the BOP has entered into an agreement allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to place detainees at five BOP facilities — Miami; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Leavenworth, Kan.; and Berlin, N.H.
A group of Senate Democrats urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to reconsider the strategy, arguing that detained immigrants during the first Trump administration mistreatment and detention conditions that were unconstitutional in federal prisons. “Due to BOP already suffering from years of understaffing, inadequate resources, and crumbling infrastructure, the Administration’s decision to revive immigration detention in BOP facilities seriously threatens the safety and well-being of BOP staff, incarcerated individuals, and immigrant detainees,” the Democrats said. Understaffed prisons already face deep challenges in making sure the current inmate population is safe, they argued. Wednesday’s House hearing underscored broader issues plaguing the beleaguered agency, such as budget issues, violence, a staffing crisis and high-dollar infrastructure problems.
Congress provided no increase to the BOP’s salaries and expenses account in fiscal 2024, despite the staffing crisis that’s been linked to prisoner deaths and a cascade of operational problems at the agency. Toomey told lawmakers her agency needs 3,000 more correctional officers than the 20,446 authorized.
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