ICE watchdog finds violations at Louisiana detention center

A federal watchdog has uncovered serious compliance failures, including specific use-of-force violations, at a large Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Louisiana. The findings were detailed in a report released this week by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General following an unannounced inspection of the Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield.

The report states that facility staff did not fully comply with federal standards in multiple areas, including environmental health and safety, food service, medical care, and detainees' access to legal materials. Investigators documented deteriorating ceilings and leaking vents, with staff using napkins and Styrofoam containers to catch water. They also found food safety hazards and deficiencies in medical recordkeeping.

Specific use-of-force incidents were a major focus. In one case, staff placed a detainee in a prohibited chokehold to gain control. In another, an officer stabbed a detainee in the hand with a pen after the individual refused to remove his hand from a housing unit door, puncturing the skin. The officer involved in the pen incident faced disciplinary action. The report...