Toxic Exposure and Abuse Reported at Closed Florida Juvenile Detention Center
Records reveal that children held at the former Homestead migrant detention center were subjected to lead, arsenic and constant fighter-jet noise, as well as sexual abuse.
Federal litigation uncovered extensive records indicating that the Homestead migrant detention center for unaccompanied minors, closed in 2019, was located beside Homestead Air Reserve Base, a known Superfund site. Children as young as six were exposed to arsenic, lead and other toxins that can cause cancer and developmental harm, while the constant roar of F-16C jets created noise levels associated with cognitive injury.
The groups suing also documented instances of sexual abuse within the facility. Earthjustice, representing the American Friends Service Committee, sued the Air Force, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the government has now settled the legal-fee portion of the case. Officials from the Air Force and HHS declined to comment. The case highlights a broader pattern of detention sites being placed in hazardous environments, a concern echoed by advocates who cite similar conditions at other migrant camps in Florida.
Why it matters
It shows how government-run detention sites can endanger vulnerable children’s health and safety.
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