At least 73 immigrants detained at the Folkston D Ray James ICE Processing Center in Georgia have started a hunger strike, protesting prolonged detention and poor conditions. Most of the protesters are asylum seekers demanding release while their cases proceed through US courts. The detainees, some held since October 2023, published an open letter alleging inadequate medical care, moldy food, cramped living spaces, and xenophobic treatment by staff.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A group of at least 73 detained immigrants, mostly asylum seekers, launched a mass hunger strike on Tuesday at the Folkston D Ray James ICE Processing Center in south-east Georgia. The facility, run by the private prison company GEO Group under contract with ICE, houses around 2,200 detainees and was previously a state prison. Detainees are protesting prolonged detention and alleged poor conditions including substandard medical care, moldy food, and cramped living quarters. Two Russian asylum seekers, Alexey Kovalko and Alexander Borovkov, released a nine-page report detailing these violations. Advocates estimate that 45 detained immigrants signed an open letter demanding release while their cases progress through the US court system and requesting protection from re-detention and deportation. ICE has reportedly sought court orders for “involuntary medical procedures,” including force feeding, on 19 hunger strikers since January 2025.
Written for “Immigrant Hunger Strike” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but all 3 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 63100: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-07
A group of at least 73 immigrants detained at a privately run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Georgia has launched a hunger strike, protesting prolonged detention and alleged poor conditions inside the centre, according to advocates and family members.
uncertain
group → detain → advocates
The hunger strike began Tuesday at the Folkston D Ray James ICE Processing Center in south-east Georgia, which is operated by private prison company GEO Group under a contract with ICE.
asserted
which → begin → ICE
The facility, a former state prison, currently houses around 2,200 detainees, according to the latest ICE data cited by the Guardian.
uncertain
facility → house → Guardian
The protesters, most of whom are asylum seekers, are demanding their release while their immigration and asylum cases continue through the US court system.
asserted
cases → demand → system
Georgia ICE detainees demand release, family reunification
The protesters published an open letter signed by 45 detained men, some of whom have been held at the facility since October 2023.
asserted
some → demand → October
They have called on Congress, judges, advocacy groups and the public to highlight their cases and urged ICE to release them.
asserted
They → call → them
The group is also seeking protection from re-detention and deportation, as well as reunification with their families.
asserted
group → seek → families
The letter said many detainees had spent between 16 months and nearly three years in detention despite not being accused of a crime.
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detainees → say → crime
The signatories said prolonged detention without an individual assessment of whether a person is dangerous or likely to flee raised questions about fairness.
"We come from different countries, races, believes [sic], and background, but we share one thing in common," the detainees said in the letter, adding that they came to the US seeking protection.
asserted
they → say → protection
The hunger strike involves detainees from several countries, including Russia, China, Sudan, Afghanistan, Nepal and others.
asserted
strike → involve → Russia
One of the organisers, Russian asylum seeker Idris Makhmudov, was reportedly placed in solitary confinement this week, according to Monica Whatley of the Campaign to Shut Down the Folkston ICE Processing Center.
uncertain
One → place → Center
Detainees allege poor medical care, moldy food
Two Russian detainees, Alexey Kovalko and Alexander Borovkov, have also released a nine-page report detailing what they described as poor conditions at the facility.
Their allegations include inadequate medical and dental care, unhealthy or spoiled food, cramped and noisy living quarters, limited access to sunlight and fresh air, and difficulty communicating with ICE officials.
asserted
allegations → allege → officials
The report also accused some GEO Group employees of hostile and xenophobic behaviour and alleged that detainees were threatened with solitary confinement.
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detainees → accuse → confinement
A detainee from Yemen who is taking part in the hunger strike is suffering from lung cancer and has a US citizen child, advocates said.
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advocates → take → child
GEO Group referred questions about the allegations to ICE.
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Group → refer → ICE
The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not respond to detailed requests for comment.
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Department → respond → comment
The protest is the latest hunger strike at an ICE detention facility since the Trump administration returned to office.
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administration → return → office
Earlier this year, detainees at the GEO Group-operated Delaney Hall facility in New Jersey also staged a hunger strike over detention conditions.
asserted
detainees → operate → conditions
The Aporia
