← Back to news
May 5, 2026
ICE Closes Abuse Investigation Office Amid Surge in Use of Force
- The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman has been shut down due to funding issues, despite being legally required to operate.
- Reports indicate a 54% increase in detainees subjected to physical force under ICE, coinciding with the office's closure.
- The closure is part of a broader strategy to deter immigration cases by worsening detention conditions, according to advocacy groups.
3 Sources
- ICE shuts down office that investigates abuse in detention centers as use of force explodesMay 5, 2026 at 3:06 PM · Independent
- DHS closes office of immigration detention watchdogMay 5, 2026 at 4:35 PM · The Hill
- US to close watchdog office for federal immigration detention abusesMay 5, 2026 at 10:56 PM · Reuters