Venezuelan athlete describes 'mental warfare' during ICE detention, release on bail

Venezuelan athlete Claudia Rodríguez, 28, recounted her harrowing experience after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over two weeks at Fort Lauderdale airport. Upon her release on bail, Rodríguez described the "indescribable" lack of humanity from ICE officials and the psychological distress she endured.

Rodríguez called her time at the Broward Transitional Center in Florida "difficult," stating that detainees felt like criminals despite adhering to immigration processes. She alleged that ICE officials subjected them to "mental warfare." She also reported witnessing severe mistreatment of other women in her cell, which housed approximately 75 individuals.

"I met two people who unfortunately lost their baby during the detention process," Rodríguez said, her voice trembling. She described how delays in medical care and a lack of necessary medication contributed to these tragic losses. She also tearfully recounted the story of an asylum seeker with breast cancer who did not receive adequate medical attention, suffering hair loss and lacking family support.

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman acknowledged Rodríguez's case, highlighting the anxiety faced by thousands of families from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti due to the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and new immigration measures. While Rodríguez is now with her family, Wasserman cautioned that she is not yet out of danger.

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Sufrió mucho. Se le cayó el pelo, no tenía ayuda, no tiene familia; a pesar de su condición, allí adentro no se vio humanidad por su caso