Key facts
- Severely ill ICE detainees in Florida are reportedly being targeted for deportation to African countries.
- Flights are allegedly scheduled for this week, with destinations including the Central African Republic and Burundi.
- Detainees are said to be unable to enter Mexico due to their medical conditions and medication needs.
- The Krome North processing center in Miami is experiencing severe overcrowding, according to a government inspector's report.
- Advocates cite past instances of abusive treatment during deportations to third countries.
Relatives of detainees and an immigration advocacy group allege that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deport severely ill individuals from two Florida facilities to African countries. Flights are reportedly scheduled as early as Wednesday, with advocates expressing concern over the detainees' medical conditions and lack of care upon arrival. The affected facilities are the Krome North processing center in Miami and the Broward transitional center in Pompano Beach. One detainee's wife described her husband's critical health issues, including uncontrolled diabetes and acute pancreatitis, and stated he was told he would be sent to Africa as Mexico would not accept him due to his medical needs. Immigration attorneys indicated that flights to the Central African Republic and Burundi are likely this week, recalling past instances of harsh treatment during long-haul deportations. A government inspector's report last month confirmed severe overcrowding and other violations at the Krome facility, with advocates linking the situation to increased deportation flights amid broader immigration crackdowns.