Marina
Immigrants confined at a federal prison in northeast Kansas are facing dangerous and degrading living conditions, according to firsthand accounts from detainees and their legal representatives.
Even individuals who have already won their immigration cases remain imprisoned under inhumane circumstances that include deprivation of basic needs and exposure to health hazards.
Disturbing Reports of Living Conditions
Interviews with detainees and their attorneys highlight that those held in Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution experience overcrowded and unsanitary quarters, prolonged lockdowns, delayed or costly medical care, limited contact with loved ones, and no access to religious services.
Alarmingly, the stress caused by these conditions has resulted in suicide attempts among detainees.
“These individuals are not criminals,” emphasized Michael Sharma-Crawford, a Kansas City-based immigration attorney and chair of the Kansas-Missouri chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “In reality, none of them should be incarcerated.”
Letters Reveal Systemic Violations
Two critical letters—one addressed to the warden of Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution regarding a rat infestation, and another directed to ICE and the Federal Bureau of Prisons—outline violations that fall far below federal standards.
According to attorneys and advocates, a significant number of immigrants are still imprisoned at Leavenworth despite prevailing in their immigration cases, many of which are governed by civil law rather than criminal statutes. Some of these individuals cannot return to their home countries due to the risk of torture or violence.
While Sharma-Crawford noted that release options for those facing deportation are limited, he stressed that it is possible to ensure detainees are held under legally acceptable conditions.
Leavenworth’s Role in Immigration Detention
Leavenworth, previously known as Fort Leavenworth Military Prison, is one of only two Kansas facilities currently used to detain immigrants.
In February, an agreement between ICE and the Federal Bureau of Prisons designated Leavenworth as a location to house detainees. Plans to reopen a separate private facility owned by CoreCivic were blocked by a judge due to zoning issues.
Sharma-Crawford revealed that ICE agents have been scouring the Kansas and Missouri regions, as far as Chicago, in a desperate search for additional detention space.
Currently, Leavenworth typically holds over 1,300 men in medium security and 220 in a minimum-security camp. Approximately 80 immigrants are detained at the facility, according to the letter.
Prison Bureau Responds
Randilee Giamusso, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment on its specific claims.
“The Bureau is committed to ensuring safety and security for all inmates and staff,” Giamusso stated, adding that they do not comment on pending legal matters.
Requests for comment from ICE went unanswered.
Mental Health Crisis: Life Without Sunlight
A letter dated May 29, signed by six civil rights and attorney groups, revealed that multiple detainees at Leavenworth attempted suicide after enduring lockdowns lasting 20 hours a day for three consecutive days.
Following their suicide attempts, these individuals were reportedly placed in solitary confinement.
One witness to a suicide attempt reported developing severe depression and fear but chose not to disclose his mental health concerns, fearing similar isolation.
When asked about these claims, prison officials neither confirmed nor denied them.
Karla Juarez, executive director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, condemned the prison’s conditions:
“What is happening at FCI Leavenworth is not only a violation of ICE’s own policies—it’s a violation of human dignity. These people should be free with their families, not trapped in overcrowded cells without medical care or sunlight.”
Discrepancies in Treatment of Prisoners
While individuals serving criminal sentences at Leavenworth have access to outdoor recreation, those detained under ICE custody are denied this privilege, contradicting the federal agreement between ICE and the Bureau of Prisons, which promises access to education materials, legal resources, and both indoor and outdoor recreation.
Reports suggest that detainees in immigration custody lack access to these critical services.
Language Barriers and Healthcare Concerns
A pervasive language barrier further complicates the situation. Many detainees do not receive language support during medical consultations.
One Spanish-speaking detainee was denied a translator, and a Russian-speaking detainee’s medical requests have been ignored for months.
Additionally, access to prescribed medications, dental care, mental health support, and routine medical care is severely delayed. Detainees are often required to pay for their medications, a practice in violation of ICE policy.
Advocates’ Recommendations
The letter ends with 14 recommendations, including:
| Key Recommendations | Details |
|---|---|
| Immediate release | Of all immigrants who have won their cases |
| Free and timely medical care | Including dental, mental, and general medical services |
| Interpretation services | Free and professional interpretation during medical and legal proceedings |
| Access to chaplains | For religious support and services |
| Confidential communication with lawyers | Free and private attorney-client phone calls |
| Outdoor recreation | Equal access to outdoor spaces as promised in federal agreements |
| Improved legal resources | Free printing from the prison’s law library |
Rodent Infestation Raises Health Risks
In early May, Kansas Federal Public Defenders sent a letter to the prison warden describing a rat infestation plaguing Leavenworth for months.
“Rats are stealing food, contaminating meals with feces, and are found dead in common areas,” the letter stated.
During client visits, public defenders saw and heard rats firsthand, raising concerns about constitutional violations stemming from the unsafe environment.
The defenders also reported challenges with video visitation, noting frequent delays, mistakes, and overcrowded facilities.
In response, Warden Crystal Carter acknowledged the problem and said pest control measures—including cleaning, baiting, and trapping—had been implemented.
Firsthand Accounts from Detainees
One former detainee described Leavenworth as “very dirty” and lacking basic hygiene resources.
“We didn’t have cleaning supplies, food was unpleasant, and there was no way to wash clothes. We only had one uniform,” he reported via a release from the ACLU of Kansas.
“Worst of all, we had no communication with our families and lacked the necessary resources.”
Legal Action on the Horizon?
While attorneys and advocates claim that federal agencies are violating the law, no lawsuit or official complaint has yet been filed.
Sharma-Crawford indicated that if humane conditions cannot be ensured, legal action may follow.
Previously, courts exercised some leniency for immigrants with open cases in good standing. But today, that grace has vanished.
“That humanity is gone,” Sharma-Crawford remarked.
Calls to End Federal Prison Detention for Immigrants
Eunice Cho, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s National Prison Project, urged the federal government to stop using federal prisons to detain immigrants.
“Extended lockdown, denial of medical care, blocking legal counsel, and depriving people of sunlight is not only inhumane—it’s illegal,” Cho declared.
The disturbing reports from Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution highlight a stark reality: many immigrants are enduring inhumane conditions despite having resolved their immigration cases.
Advocates are pushing for immediate action to release these individuals and ensure compliance with federal standards. Without change, legal challenges appear inevitable.