Stewart Detention Center
Lumpkin, Georgia · 34 well-documented stories
What stands out here
Conditions that appear in a larger share of this facility's stories than of facility stories in general. Stories run from Jan 2025 to Oct 2026.
- Injury needing medical treatment12% vs 7%
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
- Overcrowding12% vs 6%
Held in a space far over capacity: a holding cell, a bus, an airport facility, a tent.
- Died in custody or soon after12% vs 4%
The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.
share of stories hereacross all facilities
Everything the stories describe here
- Medical requests ignored · 6 stories
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Injury needing medical treatment · 4 stories
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
- Overcrowding · 4 stories
Held in a space far over capacity: a holding cell, a bus, an airport facility, a tent.
- Died in custody or soon after · 4 stories
The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.
- Shackled or chained · 3 stories
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
- Food or water withheld · 3 stories
The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.
- No bed, sleep, or basic hygiene · 2 stories
Slept on the floor, no bed or blanket, lights on all night, no shower, no toilet access, or similar.
- Family not told · 2 stories
Relatives were not informed of the arrest, a transfer, a hospitalization, or a death, or learned of it from the press or other detainees.
- Suicide, attempt, or self-harm · 2 stories
The person died by suicide, attempted it, or harmed themselves.
- Abuse or threats by staff · 2 stories
Beatings, threats, humiliation, slurs, or theft by guards or staff.
- Extreme heat or cold · 1 story
Held in a freezing or dangerously hot space (hieleras, no heat, no air conditioning in summer).
- Sexual abuse or harassment · 1 story
Sexual assault, abuse, coercion, or harassment by staff or others while in custody.
- Tackled, pinned, or thrown down · 1 story
The person was tackled, slammed, pinned to the ground, or thrown against a surface.
- Pregnant or postpartum in custody · 1 story
The detained person was pregnant, miscarried, gave birth, or was postpartum or breastfeeding while held.
- Solitary confinement · 1 story
Placed in isolation or segregation.
In their words
“In that center, everything is awful. The treatment is awful. The guards are one ruder than another. They treat everyone like criminals. I wouldn’t treat an animal like that. It’s just inhumane.”
“I told them, look, I’m waiting for a U visa that I have pending and there’s a big backstory on that U visa, so if you guys are going to take me in, you should probably contact your supervisor”
“Here in this detention center, they don’t treat us well. They treat us like animals, we don’t have—we can’t sleep,”
Stories
Godfrey W.: Army veteran and green card holder deported to Jamaica with appeal pendingGodfrey Wade, 65, an Army veteran and father of six, was deported to Jamaica while his appeal was pending and was later hospitalized for pneumonia. A Georgia judge has since voided the old conviction behind his case.Covington, GA · Oct 5, 2026 · Military.com, NYC Carib News, Military.com +8
Iranian Christian convert deported to Central African Republic after ICE detentionAn Iranian woman in her early 30s who fled Iran after converting to Christianity was deported to the Central African Republic just three days after her arrest, a country she had never visited and knows no one in.Atlanta, GA · Sep 29, 2026 · The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Deutsche Welle, Associated Press +1
Nayleth M.J.: Pregnant Venezuelan woman, 22, hospitalized while held by ICE in GeorgiaNayleth Gabriela Martínez Jiménez, 22, discovered she was pregnant while held at Georgia's Stewart Detention Center and was later hospitalized for an infection, dehydration and low potassium. A judge denied her bond.Sep 3, 2026 · Univision, La Patilla
Indi V.: Venezuelan asylum seeker slammed against wall by ICE, held 21 daysIndi Veitia, 47, a Venezuelan asylum-seeker living in Indianapolis with her wife, was slammed against a wall and held 21 days in Georgia, at times without running water, before release on bond.“In that center, everything is awful. The treatment is awful. The guards are one ruder than another. They treat everyone like criminals. I wouldn’t treat an animal like that. It’s just inhumane.” — Indi VeitiaAtlanta, GA · Aug 29, 2026 · CNN, Hindustan Times, ECIKS +1
Colombian family seeking asylum detained by ICE at Atlanta airportSofía Pineda Cardona, 20, and her parents were detained at Atlanta's airport on August 13 while heading to Florida for her birthday. The Colombian family is now held at Stewart Detention Center.Atlanta, GA · Aug 27, 2026 · El Imparcial, La Kalle
Mikel S.O.: Venezuelan asylum seeker beaten by agents, nose broken, detained in GeorgiaMikel Junior Sanchez Ortiz, 24, was pulled from his car and beaten while driving to work with his girlfriend in Gainesville, Georgia, breaking his nose. He is now held at Stewart Detention Center awaiting a 2027 asylum hearing.GA · Aug 21, 2026 · Access North Georgia, Univision, Abolish Capital
Viktor V.: Russian asylum seeker detained at routine ICE check-in in CharlotteViktor Vdovin, a Russian asylum seeker who fled with his wife and two children in 2022, was detained at a routine Charlotte check-in and sent to Stewart Detention Center, separating his case from his family's.Charlotte, NC · Aug 18, 2026 · Charlotte Observer, Slavigo
Prisciliano T.R.: Durham man, 29, dies of leukemia after ICE allegedly delays carePrisciliano Trejo Ricano, 29, had lived in Durham since age 3 and died of leukemia after reporting severe pain and coughing blood for over a week without treatment. ICE released him while in a coma before he died July 24.Durham, NC · Jul 24, 2026 · Telemundo Atlanta, Indy Week, SAN +7
Jovanny P.: Landscaper detained after ICE stops him en route to work in MariettaJovanny de Jesús Pineda was stopped by immigration agents on his way to a landscaping job with two coworkers. His wife learned of his arrest by phone; he is now held at Stewart Detention Center.Marietta, GA · Jul 8, 2026 · The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dy N.: Atlanta father deported to Vietnam after 8 months, never held newborn sonDy Nguyen, a Vietnamese refugee who lived in the U.S. for 27 years, was deported after nearly 8 months detained, during which his newborn son was born and he never got to hold him.Jun 8, 2026 · Tea Buoy, Habeas Dockets
Guatemalan man's leg nearly amputated from untreated infection in ICE custodyA 48-year-old Guatemalan man held at Stewart Detention Center developed a severe leg infection after being shackled and left on a dirty floor; he nearly lost the leg before his October 2025 release.Lumpkin, GA · Jun 5, 2026 · Washington Times, KFF Health News, HuffPost +1
Suzy G.: Trans activist held by ICE in male unit in GeorgiaSuzy Gerónimo, a transgender activist, was detained after a traffic stop and held in a men's unit at a Georgia facility, facing harassment and unsafe conditions. A judge ordered accommodations, though enforcement has been inconsistent.Lumpkin, GA · May 14, 2026 · Enlace Latino NC, Univision, Que Pasa Media +2
Dy N.: Vietnamese deacon and father of six deported by ICE, missed newborn's birthThuc Dy Dang Nguyen, a church deacon, Sunday-school teacher and father of six, was deported to Vietnam after 12 years of compliance with supervision. He missed his wife's C-section and has not met their newest child.Atlanta, GA · May 1, 2026 · Newsweek, Habeas Dockets, Tea Buoy
Denny G.: 33-year-old Cuban man dies in ICE custody in GeorgiaDy, previously held for five months during Trump's first term, is detained again at Stewart Detention Center, separated from his wife Tammy as they expect another child.Lumpkin, GA · May 1, 2026 · Reuters, Austin Kocher, KSBY +9
Rodney T.: Double amputee barber denied proper prosthetics during 15 months in ICE detentionRodney Taylor, a 47-year-old double amputee barber from Liberia, was held 15 months at Stewart Detention Center over a decades-old, pardoned burglary conviction. He was released in May 2026 after advocacy from lawmakers and his wife.Lumpkin, GA · May 11, 2026 · The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fox 5 Atlanta, WRDW +7
Denny A.G.: Cuban detainee found dead in solitary confinement at Georgia ICE facilityA 33-year-old Cuban man was found dead in solitary confinement at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, a day after an alleged altercation with staff. His mother and two U.S. senators are demanding an independent investigation.Lumpkin, GA · Apr 28, 2026 · CRBC News, Ledger-Enquirer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution +5
North Carolina transgender activist detained by ICEA transgender activist from Michoacán who has lived in North Carolina over 30 years was detained after a traffic stop and sent to a Georgia detention center. She founded a group supporting rural transgender people.Raleigh, NC · Apr 2, 2026 · Univision, Enlace Latino NC, Wake Weekly
Dy: Vietnamese refugee and father of three detained twice by ICEA Vietnamese refugee, husband to Tammy and father of three with a fourth on the way, was arrested again after an Atlanta ICE check-in and remains held at Stewart Detention Center.Lumpkin, GA · Apr 1, 2026 · Diacritics, QC Nerve, Southern Poverty Law Center +1- Celia: Single mother of five with pending U-visa deported to Mexico by ICECelia, a single mother of five, was arrested at an Atlanta airport returning from her stepson's military graduation despite a pending visa tied to her cooperation in a federal abuse investigation. She was deported to Mexico about a week later.“I told them, look, I’m waiting for a U visa that I have pending and there’s a big backstory on that U visa, so if you guys are going to take me in, you should probably contact your supervisor” — CeliaAtlanta, GA · Mar 12, 2026 · 285 South, WABE, Kbin +1
Oscar: Man on path to U.S. citizenship detained by ICE in CharlotteOscar, applying for U.S. citizenship, was detained while his boyfriend Luis Duque drove him to work in Charlotte. He was sent to Stewart Detention Center and told to self-deport or wait months for a hearing.Charlotte, NC · Feb 26, 2026 · Charlotte Observer, WSOC-TV, WBTV +1
Fazal and Alikhan: Azerbaijani gay couple to self-deport after ICE detention and inadequate medical careFazal and Alikhan, a married Azerbaijani couple who immigrated legally, were detained after a routine immigration appointment. Alikhan, who fell ill at Stewart Detention Center, chose to self-deport rather than keep fighting his case.Charlotte, NC · Jan 30, 2026 · Q Notes, The Advocate, Charlotte Observer
Fatima V.A.: NC asylum seeker with work permit held a month by Border PatrolFatima Issela Velasquez-Antonio, 23, came to the U.S. alone at 14 and recently bought a home in Wendell. After a month in Georgia custody, a judge ordered her released.Raleigh, NC · Dec 23, 2025 · ABC11, Univision, The News & Observer +3- Mostafa S.: Egyptian asylum seeker unlawfully detained at ICE check-in in CharlotteMostafa Said, an Egyptian asylum seeker who entered on humanitarian parole, was detained during a routine check-in and sent to Georgia's Stewart Detention Center. A judge ordered a bond hearing within 48 hours.Charlotte, NC · Dec 22, 2025 · WFAE, Union Leader, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Pauline B.: Cameroonian mother whose fallopian tube was removed without consent held at StewartPauline Nadege Binam, 36, who came to the U.S. at age 2, remains held at Stewart Detention Center, separated from her 17-year-old daughter. She reads nearly a book a day to cope.Lumpkin, GA · Dec 1, 2025 · The Advocate, CBS News, The Pink Times +2
Alma B.: Macon woman claiming U.S. citizenship held 243 days by ICEAlma Bowman, 59, of Macon, who says she is a U.S. citizen born in the Philippines to a Navy serviceman, was held 243 days at Stewart Detention Center before her November release.Macon, GA · Nov 27, 2025 · Georgia Public Broadcasting, Macon Telegraph, 11Alive- Chong V.: Hmong man in U.S. since infancy detained at ICE appointment in AtlantaChong Leng Vue, 45, who arrived as a stateless infant from a Thai refugee camp, was detained at a routine immigration appointment and is the sole provider for his family of seven.Atlanta, GA · Oct 16, 2025 · Newsweek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Detroit Free Press +1
Allison B.C.: ICE raided wrong home, held nursing student six monthsAllison Bustillo Chinchilla, 20, a nursing student caring for her autistic sibling, was held six months in unsanitary conditions before agreeing to leave for Honduras.Charlotte, NC · Aug 26, 2025 · Charlotte Observer, Reuters Connect, Enlace Latino NC
Alma B.: Filipina-American activist detained at ICE check-in, held 8 monthsAlma Bella Bowman, a Georgia immigrants' rights activist, was freed after eight months at Stewart Detention Center and continues seeking recognition as a citizen through her father's Navy service.Macon, GA · Aug 1, 2025 · Advancing Justice Atlanta, Center for Constitutional Rights, Philippine Daily Inquirer +1Jacinto: Georgia driver denied bond twice after ICE 'slowpoke' stopJacinto, who had a valid license and a pending green card application, was turned over to ICE after a Georgia traffic stop and has since been denied bond twice.Jefferson, GA · Jul 18, 2025 · Univision
Katherin G.A.: Durham woman held by ICE for months over minor traffic chargesKatherin Guillen-Acosta has been held at Stewart Detention Center since June after a Durham traffic case was wrongly referred to ICE. She described poor food and mistreatment, saying, "The criminals are outside, and the innocent are inside."“Here in this detention center, they don’t treat us well. They treat us like animals, we don’t have—we can’t sleep,” — Katherin Guillen-AcostaDurham, NC · Jun 24, 2025 · Indy Week, Community Spirit Event
Daniela S.L.: U.S. Army soldier's wife detained by ICE over malfunctioning ankle monitorA 24-year-old Colombian asylum seeker married to an active-duty Army soldier was detained after her ankle monitor malfunctioned, then held in Georgia and Texas before being released on $10,000 bond.El Paso, TX · May 12, 2025 · Galeo Impact Fund, Univision, WSB-TV
Abelardo A.D.: Construction worker dies during ICE transfer in GeorgiaAbelardo Avellaneda Delgado, 68, a construction worker who lived in the U.S. for 40 years, died being transferred to Stewart Detention Center; his family says he had no prior health conditions.Weston, GA · May 5, 2025 · The Guardian, NPR, Latin Times +3
Ximena A.C.: Dalton college student mistakenly arrested, remains in ICE custodyXimena Arias-Cristobal, 19, a Dalton State Community College student, was arrested after police stopped the wrong vehicle; she remains held at Stewart Detention Center facing deportation despite dropped local charges.Dalton, GA · May 5, 2025 · ABC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fox 5 Atlanta +3
Wilson V.C.: Honduran asylum seeker with work permit detained by ICE outside Georgia churchWilson Rogelio Velasquez Cruz, a Honduran asylum seeker and father of three with a work permit, was detained outside his Georgia church during Sunday service in front of his wife and taken to Stewart Detention Center.Tucker, GA · Jan 28, 2025 · WSB-TV, Latin Times, WSB Radio +5
Where people stood at the latest report
Each square is one percent of these stories. Read it with care: people who are still detained or already deported have far less access to reporters and lawyers than people who were released, so this mix reflects who gets covered more than how cases end.
- Died 12%
- Deported 15%
- Self-deported 6%
- Still detained 41%
- Released 21%
- Unknown 6%