ICE is facing intense scrutiny over the inhumane conditions within temporary holding facilities used during recent mass deportation operations. Reports indicate that detainees at New York's 26 Federal Plaza have been held for days in cramped rooms lacking basic necessities like beds or medical staff.
The 26 Federal Plaza capacity crisis
ICE agents are currently unable to transport detainees to long-term facilities as quickly as they are being arrested in New York. according to the report, this has resulted in dozens of people being held for multiple days in rooms at 26 Federal Plaza that were originally intended for short-term stays of under 12 hours.
This bottleneck is part of a wider pattern seen in other major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Mesa, Arizona. As the Trump administration accelerates its deportation efforts, the agency's reliance on these rudimentary holding rooms has become a central point of contention.
Sleeping sitting up and medical neglect in Manhattan
Conditions within the 10th-floor holding rooms of the Manhattan office building have been described as inhumane by those detained there. The report notes that the spaces often reek of unwashed bodies and lack essential infrastructure such as beds or showers.
Medical care has also been severely compromised due to a lack of full-time staff on-site. Nuvia Martinez, a former detainee, provided sworn testimony regarding the lack of treatment for serious conditions , including kidney failure, an ovarian cyst, and tuberculosis. Because of the extreme lack of space, many detainees have been forced to sleep in a seated position.
A 3,000-arrest daily quota driving the surge
The rapid increase in arrests is a direct response to new White House mandates. while ICE officials were initially directed to make between 1,200 and 1,500 arrests every day, the agency began working toward a new quota of 3,000 arrests daily in May 2025.
This surge in activity has created a massive logistical challenge for the Department of Homeland Security. as agents began arresting migrants immediately following their immigration court hearings, the lack of available flights and full long-term detention centers has left officials with nowhere to move the influx of people.
Why DHS is withholding details on detainee treatment
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has refused to provide detailed answers regarding the treatment of individuals at 26 Federal Plaza, citing ongoing legal battles. While DHS lawyers argue that temporary rooms are a necessary response to a lack of detention space, several questions remain unanswered. It is unclear how many other facilities are currently operating beyond their intended capacity, or if the August 12 court order—which capped the Manhattan facility at 22 people—is being strictly followed by ICE leadership.
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