Introduction to the Krome Detention Center Tour
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson took a tour of the Krome Detention Center, the embattled immigration detention center in Miami which is the oldest in the United States, on Thursday after weeks of complaints from family members of those inside.
Background on the Detention Center
Over the last month, there have been stories from family members citing inhumane conditions, including those of a Ukrainian man who died in February after getting sick in the detention center.
And in March, testimonials from dozens of family members reported similar conditions. One Florida woman described to NBC6: "They are being treated like dogs. There’s no AC, everybody is kind of sick in there, God knows what they have, there’s no medical attention, much less give them privileges to a bathroom.”
Protests and Calls for Action
Those sentiments led to protests, and in April, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called on the Trump administration to allow her to tour the facility.
Wilson got an exclusive look on Thursday. Cameras were not allowed inside the detention center during her tour.
Congresswoman Wilson’s Tour and Findings
"I wanted to see where were these dangerous people that they had picked up off the street and put them in a detention center? I didn’t see that. I saw hard working men," she said at a news conference outside the facility after the tour.
She said agents at the detention center told her that a large structure built in just 14 days and able to hold more than 400 people would be opening on Friday to help with overcrowding inside of the facility. And she said they stated they were ready to build more.
Wilson said while she didn’t see people sleeping on the floor or visibly ill, she saw significantly less people than what she anticipated.
"I am positive that they took people out today so I wouldn’t see it," she alleged outside the center. "I went inside every place, I went in—but this is not my first rodeo."
Allegations of Staged Conditions
As far as the claims of poor cleanliness, Wilson believes that was also, literally, covered up.
"Well it was like someone went in their yesterday and put on a whole new coat of fresh paint. You could even smell the paint," she said.
Response from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
In response to the allegations, Field Office Director Juan Agudelo for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami stated: “What the Congresswoman saw today was not staged, and any allegation that it was is simply not true. What Congresswoman Wilson saw today is what ICE does on a daily basis. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE."
They further stated that to help with overcrowding they are transferring detainees to other facilities with capacity, expediting case processing and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
The tour of the Krome Detention Center by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has raised more questions than answers. While Wilson alleged that the conditions she saw were staged, ICE has denied these allegations. The situation at the detention center remains a contentious issue, with many calling for improved conditions and treatment of detainees.
FAQs
Q: What is the Krome Detention Center?
A: The Krome Detention Center is an immigration detention center located in Miami, Florida.
Q: What were the conditions like at the detention center, according to family members?
A: Family members reported inhumane conditions, including lack of air conditioning, sickness, and poor medical attention.
Q: Who toured the detention center?
A: Congresswoman Frederica Wilson toured the detention center on Thursday.
Q: What did Congresswoman Wilson see during her tour?
A: Wilson saw hardworking men, but not the dangerous people she expected. She also saw a new structure being built to help with overcrowding.
Q: What were the allegations made by Congresswoman Wilson?
A: Wilson alleged that the conditions she saw were staged, and that people were taken out of the facility so she wouldn’t see them.
