South American migrant extorted and beaten by prison gang at ICE detention center in Texas
Jun 9, 2026 · TX

Miguel, a South American migrant held at an ICE detention center in Texas, was subjected to systematic extortion and violence by members of the prison gang Los Paisas. He was forced to give gang members portions of food purchased with money his family sent him, and was beaten and confined when he refused or failed to comply. After pressure to join the gang, which he resisted, he endured further retaliation. Fearing retaliation and doubting that immigration authorities would protect him, Miguel never reported the abuse until after his release from detention.
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