New York — The Trump administration has resumed using federal prisons to detain individuals arrested amid its immigration crackdown, as stated by the federal Bureau of Prisons. This policy, similar to actions taken during Trump's first term, has stirred significant controversy and allegations of mistreatment.

In an official statement to the Associated Press, the Bureau indicated that it will support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by housing detainees to meet the administration's objectives. However, the Bureau has opted not to disclose how many detainees are being accepted or which facilities are incorporated into this operation.

According to three sources familiar with the situation, federal jails in cities such as Los Angeles and Miami, alongside a federal prison in Atlanta, have been identified as potential sites for housing immigration detainees. Due to confidentiality restrictions, these sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emphasized their inability to provide further details.

The escalation in immigration detainee populations could intensify the already critical situations within federal prisons, which are enduring severe understaffing, violence, and various systemic flaws. The Bureau of Prisons serves as the Justice Department’s most extensive agency, operating 122 facilities with over 155,000 inmates and an annual budget nearing $8 billion. Facing significant challenges, including insufficient staffing and deteriorating infrastructure, the Bureau announced plans to close one prison and furlough six prison camps last December.

In recent developments, President Trump has declared intentions to deport millions among the estimated 11.7 million undocumented individuals living in the U.S. While ICE currently holds the means to detain approximately 41,000 people, the government has not specified how many beds will be necessary to achieve its objectives. Many detained individuals are normally routed to ICE processing centers, private detention facilities, or to local jails that contract with the agency.

In another alarming report, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that a second flight of detainees had recently arrived at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, igniting concerns from immigrant rights groups about the base's function as a "legal black hole." The Los Angeles Times noted that over 8,000 individuals had been arrested as part of immigration enforcement actions since Trump's inauguration.

In light of these new detainment procedures, memories of lawsuits from Trump’s previous term resurfaced. Immigrants held in federal prison facilities had previously filed complaints alleging “punitive and inhumane” treatment, citing inadequate meals and limited recreational time.

Additionally, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele proposed shipping U.S. immigration detainees and other prisoners to his nation’s vast CECOT prison, indicating a willingness to allow the U.S. to outsource part of its prison system for a modest fee. Trump expressed openness to this idea, although he admitted it could provoke legal challenges.

More details on these developments are expected as the American Civil Liberties Union continues its push for transparency regarding the use of federal prisons for immigrant detainment.

For further information, refer to the original reports from India Times and AP News.