ICE Jails Have Repeatedly Denied Muslims the Right to Fully Observe Ramadan

"The very least that people who are detained are entitled to is the right to practice their religion with dignity, yet they are often unable to exercise this basic right. This is especially troubling during Ramadan, a holy month of additional devotion and a time when there are greater spiritual rewards for that devotion."

"Ramadan is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. Muslims observe it as a month of fasting each day from sunrise to sunset, engaging in communal prayer, studying the Quran, and performing acts of charity and community service. Many of these practices are made difficult in immigration jails, where inflexible mealtimes, prohibitions on gathering, and a denial of access to items such as Qurans, prayer mats, or religious dress are the norm year-round."

Ramadan observance faces significant obstacles in ICE immigration detention facilities, where Muslim detainees are denied access to Qurans, prayer mats, and religious clothing. Inflexible mealtimes conflict with fasting requirements from sunrise to sunset, and restrictions on gathering prevent communal prayer and religious study. These denials occur despite immigration detention being classified as civil rather than punitive, meaning detainees retain basic rights. The Trump administration's immigration enforcement has expanded ICE detention to 75,000 people across over 225 facilities. Religious freedom advocates emphasize that detained individuals deserve the fundamental right to practice their faith with dignity, particularly during Ramadan when spiritual devotion holds heightened significance.

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