Fact Check: "Stewart Detention Center has reported the most in-custody deaths nationwide since 2017."
What We Know
The Stewart Detention Center, operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Lumpkin, Georgia, has been a focal point in discussions about in-custody deaths in immigration detention facilities. According to a report by the American Immigration Council, since 2017, there have been numerous documented deaths in ICE custody, with the Stewart Detention Center being highlighted as a facility with a significant number of these incidents (source).
From January 1, 2017, to June 25, 2024, ICE reported that 70 individuals died in its custody, and a substantial number of these deaths occurred at the Stewart Detention Center (source). The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also indicated that many of these deaths could have been prevented with adequate medical care (source).
However, the exact ranking of the Stewart Detention Center in terms of total deaths compared to other facilities has not been definitively established in the available data. The AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) maintains a list of deaths at adult detention centers, but it does not provide a comprehensive ranking of facilities based on the number of deaths (source).
Analysis
The claim that the Stewart Detention Center has reported the most in-custody deaths nationwide since 2017 is partially supported by the data indicating a high number of deaths at this facility. However, the lack of a comprehensive, publicly available ranking of all detention centers complicates the verification of this claim.
The sources discussing deaths in ICE custody, including reports from the ACLU and AILA, focus on the systemic issues within ICE facilities, such as inadequate medical care and neglect, which have contributed to preventable deaths (source, source). While these reports highlight the Stewart Detention Center's issues, they do not provide a clear comparison with other facilities to confirm it as the highest in-custody death rate.
Additionally, the credibility of the sources discussing these deaths is generally strong, as they are produced by reputable organizations that focus on immigration issues and human rights. However, the potential for bias exists, as these organizations advocate for reform in the immigration detention system, which may influence their framing of the data.
Conclusion
Needs Research. While there is evidence suggesting that the Stewart Detention Center has a significant number of in-custody deaths, the claim that it has the most deaths nationwide since 2017 cannot be conclusively verified with the available data. A more thorough investigation into the comparative death rates across all ICE facilities is necessary to substantiate this claim.
