An investigation by The Associated Press and KFF Health News found that hundreds of immigration detainees across at least 33 states have filed federal lawsuits alleging inadequate medical care at detention facilities. The analysis examined thousands of court cases filed since President Trump's second inauguration that use habeas corpus petitions to challenge detention.

The investigation documented allegations of delayed or denied medications for conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, epilepsy and cancer. Detainees reported missing scheduled medical appointments, untreated infections, and lack of basic care such as glasses for vision problems. One detainee said he pulled out his own tooth due to untreated dental pain, while another reported missing HIV medication during facility transfers.

The detention population has surged from approximately 40,000 people a year ago to more than 75,000 as of mid-January, straining the system's capacity. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody has become deadlier than it has been in two decades, according to researchers writing in JAMA medical journal in April. The Department of Homeland Security reported 51 deaths in detention since Trump's second term began.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. Acting chief medical officer Sean Conley previously stated that it is policy for detainees to receive "timely and appropriate medical care" and that the healthcare provided is "better, more responsive healthcare than many aliens have ever received in their entire lives."

Private prison companies that contract with DHS said they follow ICE standards and provide required medical care when contacted for comment. Some facilities said they were unfamiliar with specific allegations, while others attributed lapses to detainee behavior rather than systemic issues.

The investigation found that about 70% of detainees have no criminal conviction, as immigration proceedings are civil rather than criminal matters. More than 300 medical neglect claims were identified, though researchers noted this represents only a fraction of potential cases due to limited public access to court documents. The Department of Homeland Security shut down the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman in May, citing lack of congressional funding, eliminating a previous avenue for addressing medical complaints.