Transgender Detainees Report Abuse, Hormone Cuts and Solitary in ICE Facilities

Transgender detainees such as Channel Ferro Badell, who spent six months in six ICE facilities, and Camila Toro de Paula, held for over a year in a men’s camp, allege pervasive violence, sexual harassment and the sudden termination of hormone therapy across at least ten detention sites. Lookout News identified dozens of women in Arizona and Colorado experiencing severe psychological distress after hormone cuts, while interviews from Louisiana and Texas reveal forced overnight work crews, name-calling, and threats of rape.

Several women report being placed in isolation cells for months, despite medical advice that it worsens PTSD and depression. The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the claims as false and asserted that no public funds are used for gender-affirming care. The policies replace Obama-era 2015 guidelines that allowed dedicated “trans pods,” access to appropriate clothing and hormones, and consider transgender status in release decisions.