HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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ICE detainees face greater extreme heat risk than prisoners

Oct 19, 2025

A Washington Post analysis found that ICE detention centers experience an average of 29 days of dangerous heat per year, compared to 18 days in federal, state, and county prisons. The analysis, based on internal ICE planning documents, shows that planned expansions of detention capacity will increase this figure to 35 dangerous heat days annually. Many detainees report malfunctioning air conditioning and inadequate cooling systems.

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