Mississippi ICE facility: Detainees report gas leak, denied care amid heat and power outage

Detainees at an overcrowded federal immigration facility in Mississippi claim they were sickened by a mysterious gas leak and subsequently denied medical attention when they reported symptoms like headaches. The allegations surfaced amid a two-day power outage at the Adams County detention center, operated by CoreCivic, which left the facility without air conditioning.

According to one detainee who communicated through his family, those held at the facility were forced to spend hours in the blazing sun with no shade or endure sweltering conditions inside cramped cells. He reported rising tensions, increased arguments, and physical altercations among detainees, leaving him and others fearful of violence that inadequate staffing levels might not manage.

These claims emerge as a third person held in ICE custody at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey, run by GEO Group, has reportedly died. Furthermore, an inspection report from May revealed 23 violations of use-of-force or restraint standards at the Adams County facility. These deficiencies led to the facility's rating being downgraded from superior in 2025 to acceptable/adequate this year.

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They evacuated them out into the afternoon heat for hours. They were outside for hours. And when they came back in, it still smelled of gas. And then some of the men were getting headaches and symptoms of inhaled gas. They were never really told where the leak came from, how it was resolved, or was it fully resolved.

The alleged gas leak occurred last Saturday. "They evacuated them out into the afternoon heat for hours," said the wife of the detainee, who remains unidentified for fear of retaliation. "They were outside for hours. And when they came back in, it still smelled of gas. And then some of the men were getting headaches and symptoms of inhaled gas. They were never really told where the leak came from, how it was resolved, or was it fully resolved."

The detainee reported that the power outage happened on Monday, with partial restoration on Tuesday. Air conditioning remained non-functional until late Wednesday. "When these things are happening, either they’re shut out outside without shade and air conditioning, and they’re not given any answers," the detainee's wife stated. "Or a lot of the time the power was out they just had them locked in their cells, they didn’t get to leave for dinner or breakfast." The detainee's wife also mentioned that authorities were reportedly suppressing efforts by detainees to share information about the conditions.

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When these things are happening, either they’re shut out outside without shade and air conditioning, and they’re not given any answers. Or a lot of the time the power was out they just had them locked in their cells, they didn’t get to leave for dinner or breakfast.