Structural neglect and institutional opacity drive deaths in US immigration custody
Original framing: “Record deaths in US immigration custody expose systemic failures” — The Guardian - World
Voices of detained migrants, their families, and advocates are systematically excluded from policy discussions. Their testimonies reveal the lived realities of trauma, fear, and bureaucratic indifference that dominate the system.
The systemic failures in US immigration custody are rooted in a combination of historical patterns of racialized control, corporate profiteering from detention, and a lack of legal and medical infrastructure.
These issues are compounded by a political culture that prioritizes enforcement over human dignity. By examining Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives, we see that these failures are not unique to the US but are part of a global trend of securitizing migration. The solution lies in a comprehensive shift toward community-based alternatives, independent oversight, and legal reform that centers human rights. Drawing from successful models in Canada and Germany, the US can transition toward a more humane and just immigration system.