In recent years, the U.S. immigration system has faced scrutiny, especially regarding health care in detention centers. In 2025, arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surged, leading to a jump in the number of people held in these facilities and a desperate need for medical staff.
The U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) has been called upon to help. Nearly 400 officers were deployed to provide medical care in various detention locations. However, many in the service are expressing dissatisfaction with these assignments. Medical professionals report long delays in administering care and medications, overcrowded facilities, and chaotic environments. Some health workers have left the jobs they once felt committed to.
Nurse practitioner Rebekah Stewart, who resigned last October, described feeling conflicted about her role. She noted that many USPHS officers feel compelled to align their ethical obligations with their work, but find that increasingly difficult when faced with the conditions in ICE facilities. “We were supposed to protect health, not participate in inhumane operations,” she said.
While the USPHS is primarily known for addressing health crises during natural disasters or disease outbreaks, the reality of serving in ICE facilities presents a different challenge. Many officers experience moral distress, questioning whether their contributions are furthering the detention and deportation processes they oppose.
Statistics reveal that ICE detentions are now at their highest levels in nearly two decades. Over 71,000 individuals are currently held across 225 facilities, including local jails and military bases. Conditions are often reported as overcrowded and unsanitary, raising alarms among advocacy groups and the public about the treatment of detainees.
Hilary Mabel, a bioethicist from Emory University, pointed out the impact this situation has on morale within the USPHS. “When professionals feel their integrity is at stake, they leave the profession or organization,” she stated. This exodus poses significant risks to the quality of care provided to some of society’s most vulnerable populations.
Currently, about 340 officers have exited the USPHS, some claiming their departure stems from the ethical dilemmas they face. Jonathan White, a former commander in the USPHS, noted that the service is experiencing a morale crisis, and the loss of dedicated individuals further threatens the ability of health agencies to adequately respond to public health issues.
As health professionals express their concerns, it raises a critical question: how can the government ensure humane treatment and proper medical care for detainees while addressing the rights and well-being of those who serve them? It’s a complex challenge, one that will require careful consideration and action moving forward.
For more insights on healthcare in immigrant detention facilities, you can visit the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ICE’s detention management guidelines.
