"Researchers detailed an increase in solitary confinement placements and, for some populations, weeks-long isolation periods, in a recent report that focused on data between April 2024 and May 2025. The report, which relies on ICE's data collections, didn't show the duration of solitary confinement placements for all detainees, just for those labeled as "vulnerable," like those with mental health issues."
"Those labeled "vulnerable," who make up one-fifth of detainees between April 2024 and May, were placed in solitary confinement for an average of 38 days in the first three months of 2025. In 2021, the average duration was 14 days, per the report. ICE's own directives suggest using solitary confinement on people with mental health conditions only as a last resort."
Nearly 14,000 people were placed in solitary confinement in immigrant detention centers nationwide between April 2024 and August 2025. An increase in solitary placements and weeks-long isolation for some populations occurred between April 2024 and May 2025. ICE's data collections did not show durations of solitary placements for all detainees, only for those labeled "vulnerable," like those with mental health issues. Vulnerable detainees, who comprised one-fifth of detainees between April 2024 and May, averaged 38 days in solitary during the first three months of 2025, up from 14 days in 2021. ICE directives suggest solitary for people with mental health conditions only as a last resort. Data incompleteness may undercount placements. Several processing centers reported hundreds to thousands of isolations.
Read at Axios
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