• DHS is pushing back hard against a controversial NBC News report alleging ICE detainees are suffering from food shortages and spoiled meals. The department denies the claims, calling them “false” and politically charged, while defending its standards amid renewed scrutiny from Democrats and immigration advocates.

MIAMI, FL (TDR) — The Department of Homeland Security on Monday rejected claims that detainees held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities are being served spoiled or insufficient food, calling the allegations “false” and the NBC News report behind them “fake news.”

The sharp denial comes as President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies face renewed fire from Democrats and immigration groups over conditions in ICE detention centers—especially at Florida’s newly opened “Alligator Alcatraz” facility.

“FAKE NEWS! Any claim that there is a lack of food or subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are FALSE,” the department posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. Meals are certified by dieticians,” DHS added. “Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE.”

NBC Report Sparks Outrage

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The NBC News investigation, based on interviews with immigration attorneys, detainees, and advocacy groups, claims detainees across several states have reported being served expired or moldy food and receiving portions too small to sustain them. Some reportedly suffered weight loss or illness as a result.

One Salvadoran man detained at the Golden State Annex in California described being served “flavorless ground beef that looks like little, small pebbles.” In Texas, the wife of another detainee said “many are given two spoonfuls of rice and that many are still hungry.”

NBC’s reporting also included complaints from detainees at the “Alligator Alcatraz” site in the Florida Everglades—an isolated facility already drawing comparisons to a prison camp due to its mosquito-infested surroundings, heat issues, and allegedly overcrowded cages.

Trump’s Enforcement Agenda Under Scrutiny

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The controversy has quickly reignited the partisan debate over President Trump’s border enforcement strategy, which includes aggressive deportations, expanded detention, and new fast-track processing centers like the Florida facility.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who toured the Everglades facility over the weekend, accused ICE of running “cages, wall-to-wall humans, 32 detainees per cage.” Families of detainees described “sweltering heat,” limited food, and unreliable power.

ICE Fires Back

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons defended agency standards during a Fox News interview Monday, emphasizing that the facility is intended for short-term holding and not long-term residency.

“This isn’t a resort in Florida,” Lyons said. “They’re there to just be housed so they can be removed from the country quickly.”

“ICE prides itself on our detention standards, and I’m still going to stick with that with our partnership in the state of Florida,” he added.

While DHS says it will continue to review facility compliance, officials insist that the NBC story relies on anecdotal and activist-driven claims—not objective evidence.

Are Democrats weaponizing humanitarian concerns to undermine enforcement, or is ICE falling short of its legal duty? Sound off in the comments below.

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