Fact Check: Emergency calls from ICE facilities surged nearly 400 this year.

Fact Check: "Emergency calls from ICE facilities surged nearly 400 this year."

What We Know

The claim that emergency calls from ICE facilities surged nearly 400 this year is based on reports indicating significant overcrowding and deteriorating conditions within these facilities. According to a recent article by NPR, there has been an increase in emergency calls related to overcrowding, lack of food, and medical neglect among detainees. Specifically, the article mentions that ICE facilities are experiencing temporary overcrowding due to an increase in detention populations, which has risen from approximately 39,000 in January 2025 to about 48,000 by early April 2025, marking a significant rise in detainee numbers (NPR).

Additionally, a report from Wired states that records of emergency calls from ICE detention centers show a system inundated by requests for help, indicating a troubling trend in the treatment of detainees. However, the specific figure of a "nearly 400" surge in emergency calls is not directly substantiated in the available sources.

Analysis

While the reports from NPR and Wired highlight serious issues within ICE facilities, including overcrowding and inadequate medical care, the claim regarding the specific number of emergency calls lacks direct evidence. The NPR report discusses a general increase in emergency calls but does not provide exact figures to confirm the "nearly 400" claim. Furthermore, the Wired article mentions that the system is overwhelmed but does not quantify the increase in calls either.

The credibility of the sources is generally high, with NPR being a well-respected news organization and Wired providing investigative journalism. However, the absence of specific data to support the claim raises questions about its accuracy. The reports do indicate a significant rise in emergency situations within ICE facilities, but without concrete numbers, it is difficult to verify the claim fully.

Moreover, the context provided by these reports suggests systemic issues within ICE that could lead to increased emergency calls, but the lack of precise data means that the claim cannot be fully substantiated at this time.

Conclusion

Needs Research. While there is evidence of increased emergency situations within ICE facilities, the specific claim of a nearly 400 surge in emergency calls is not directly supported by the available data. Further investigation and access to detailed records of emergency calls would be necessary to verify this claim accurately.

Fact Check: Emergency calls from ICE facilities surged nearly 400 this year.