AS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO INCREASE DETENTION INFRASTRUCTURE, DURBIN DETAILS INHUMANE CONDITIONS, DEATHS AT ICE DETENTION FACILITIES

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today's Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting condemning the Trump Administration's cruel mass deportation campaign and the inhumane conditions at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. Through Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE has dramatically expanded its detention capacity. The agency is holding about 65,000 individuals nationwide, nearly double the number under the previous Administration.

During his opening, Durbin also spoke about the tragic deaths in immigration detention. In 2025, ICE reported 32 deaths-the highest number in more than two decades. Durbin also urged Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to convene a public oversight hearing with ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) leadership to address the appalling excesses of this Administration's inhumane detention and deportation campaign.

Key Quotes:

"Despite President Trump's claims about pursuing the 'worst of the worst,' 86 percent of immigrants arrested last year have never been charged or convicted of a violent crime. The Administration is now planning to turbocharge its mass deportation campaign by purchasing warehouses across the country, some capable of housing up to 8,500 people. Blueprints show plans to repurpose structures built for storing and distributing consumer products, to confine thousands of human beings at a scale that raises serious concerns about crowding, safety, public health, and dignity."

"We are only two months into the new year, and at least eight people have already died in ICE custody. These deaths were preventable. Many died of treatable diseases like heart disease, respiratory infections, and diabetes. 9-1-1 calls from these facilities highlight a system that is overwhelmed, and internal audits have documented failures to meet basic standards of care."

"Earlier this year, Geraldo Lunas Campos died at the Camp East Montana facility in Texas. Witnesses report he was choked to death by guards. An autopsy by the county medical examiner determined his death was a homicide… Another man recently died at the same facility. Instead of transferring him to the local medical examiner, DHS moved his body to a nearby army base-which is now refusing to release the results of his autopsy."

"To make matters worse, DHS continues to obstruct independent investigations into its failures. It has repeatedly defied court orders, tried to hide evidence, blocked Members of Congress from accessing detention facilities, and ignored congressional oversight requests."

"It was only after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and mounting public concern about her rogue agency that Secretary Noem finally agreed to come before this Committee… Next Tuesday's hearing will be just the beginning-not the end-of our oversight responsibility. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently held a hearing with senior ICE, CBP, and USCIS officials. Immigration falls within the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction. We cannot defer this responsibility to other committees and ignore this historic injustice."

"Mr. Chairman, I urge you to convene a public oversight hearing with these agencies to address their records. When human beings are dying under federal supervision, oversight is not optional. It is our responsibility."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available herefor TV Stations.

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