Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
U.S. Rep. André Carson said Thursday that accounts from immigration detainees inside Miami Correctional Facility contradict official assurances about conditions — and that delayed medical care and a lack of emergency systems may have contributed to at least one recent detainee death.
Carson, an Indianapolis Democrat, spoke outside the Miami County prison after touring the facility with staff earlier in the day and meeting privately with detainees. His visit came just days after a second person in federal immigration custody died at the state prison in less than two months.
He called for a full investigation into both deaths and broader changes to the use of the facility for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention.
“We’re calling to end ICE detention here at Miami Correctional Facility,” he said.
Roughly 100 protesters gathered outside the prison during Thursday’s visit, standing along U.S. 31 and holding signs with phrases like “protect immigrants,” “build housing not detention camps” and “end ICE.” Passing motorists frequently honked in response — most in support, though some shouted opposition.
“We were able to talk to two detainees … and what the detainees told us, in many instances, was quite heartbreaking,” Carson said.
Accounts from inside
The congressman said detainees he spoke with described systemic issues inside the facility, including a lack of a functioning intercom system to report emergencies, difficulty accessing medical care and inconsistent access to basic necessities.
The Indiana Department of Correction did not immediately respond to questions from the Indiana Capital Chronicle about Carson’s claims.
“They reported no intercom system to report health emergencies,” Carson said. “They are unable to get haircuts, forced to share nail clippers … and that they are not violent criminals, and they don’t deserve to be detained.”
Carson said detainees also described erratic meal schedules — sometimes being served breakfast as early as 3:30 a.m. — and limited access to clean clothing, forcing some to wash clothes in sinks.
One detainee told Carson he had not had a haircut in six months and struggled to observe religious practices due to inconsistent meal timing.
But most concerning, Carson said, were detainee accounts suggesting that at least one death may have been preventable.
“They told us that they would like to have access to a functioning system — a death occurred that they feel could have been prevented had an intercom system been in place,” Carson said. “They noted that this person was screaming and personnel did not respond rapidly … and they felt like if an intercom system were in place, that could have been prevented.”
When asked whether detainees who died had received adequate medical care, Carson responded: “Apparently not.”
One detainee told Carson it took two weeks to receive medical attention while sick, which ultimately amounted to “a few Tylenol capsules,” he said.
Recent deaths prompt added scrutiny
The facility, operated by DOC under a contract with federal immigration authorities, has housed hundreds of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees since late 2025. The agency has received two monthly payments so far totaling $5 million.
The arrangement has drawn scrutiny from advocates and some lawmakers across the nation amid growing reports of poor conditions and limited oversight in such facilities.
In a statement released Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana additionally called for “urgent transparency and accountability” following the deaths of Lorth Sim, 59, in February and Tuan Van Bui, 55, on April 1.
Sim’s death was attributed to cardiovascular disease, while Bui’s remains under investigation. Carson’s team said they’ve requested additional details about the deaths and are awaiting official reports from ICE.
“Two deaths in less than two months raise serious concerns about conditions inside the facility, the adequacy of oversight and whether the safety and rights of those held there are being protected,” the ACLU said in a news release.
At least 15 people are now known to have died in ICE custody in 2026, according to the ACLU.
Legal access, discrimination concerns
Carson said detainees also raised concerns about access to legal counsel, including delays in receiving court documents that can carry strict deadlines.
One example shared with his office involved a detainee receiving a notice from an immigration judge only after the response deadline had already passed.
“These sorts of mismanagements or lack of adequate services … lead to real repercussions for individual cases,” said Kathy Souchet-Downey, Carson’s director of immigration services.
An immigration attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center further said Thursday that timely access to legal communication is critical in detention settings, where cases often move quickly.
“It is very important for those detainees to have quick and confidential legal visits with their attorneys,” attorney Byron Ramirez said.
Carson additionally said one detainee described experiencing racial discrimination.
“This gentleman, who is Haitian, talked about how he felt like the tone and tenor of the personnel was very dismissive. It was derogatory,” Carson said. “He said he felt deep levels of discrimination that were notable from the other detainees.”
Calls for change
Faith leaders, advocates and former detainees spoke alongside Carson, describing what they characterized as a broader pattern of harm within immigration detention systems.
Miguel Avila, who said he previously spent more than nine months in ICE detention, described conditions as isolating and traumatic.
“Every single bed represents a broken family,” Avila said of the facility’s capacity.
Clergy members present Thursday called conditions inside the prison “a moral and ethical catastrophe” and called for an end to detention at the site.
Carson said his visit was part of his responsibility to conduct oversight and gather firsthand information.
“We witnessed many examples where that didn’t happen,” he said, referring to what he described as failures to uphold detainees’ rights and basic standards of care.
Still, Carson said facility staff were cooperative during the visit and noted what he described as broader resource challenges at the facility.
“They simply don’t have enough resources compared to other states,” he said, adding that the dual role of housing both state inmates and federal detainees places have strained the DOC site. “I think that it is a model that is simply unsustainable for any facility.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: [email protected].
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.