‘Inhumane conditions’ and death at Miami’s Krome migrant detention center
Growing reports of overcrowding and mistreatment at Florida’s largest immigration enforcement facility have sparked protests and are yet another example of the use of cruelty as a deterrent
“We’re practically kidnapped.” “They treat us like dogs.” “This is hell on earth.” Testimonies of the conditions endured by detained migrants find their way out of the Krome Detention Center, located on the edge of Miami, where the city merges with the immense swamps of the Everglades. At Florida’s largest migrant detention facility — originally a Cold War missile base and known for its poor conditions since it began operating as a temporary prison for immigrants — no cameras or personal cell phones are allowed. Legal representatives for detainees are the only outsiders allowed in, and official communications are limited. But in recent weeks, viral videos on social media, complaints from family members, lawyers, and activists, and even a couple of deaths at the center since late January have put the spotlight on Krome. The situation is such that some detainees are requesting to be deported rather than spend more time there. It’s yet another example of the deployment of cruelty as a deterrent strategy.
