Immigrants Launch Hunger Strike at Georgia ICE Detention Center Over Prolonged Detention and Poor Conditions
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 to protest prolonged detention and alleged poor conditions inside the center. The strike began Tuesday at the Folkston D. Ray James ICE Processing Center in southeast Georgia, which is operated by the private prison company GEO Group under a contract with ICE. According to advocates and family members, the majority of the men who signed a letter outlining their grievances are asylum seekers from a wide range of countries, including Russia, China, Sudan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and others.
The signatories complain that “innocent people can remain in detention for very long periods, without any individualized finding that they are dangerous or likely to flee.” They emphasize that most detainees at Folkston who signed the letter are requesting asylum, yet they are held indefinitely while their cases proceed. One striking detail shared by advocates describes a detainee who remained outside for hours in summer clothing as the cold caused severe pain, highlighting the harsh conditions. Another message from detainees Kovalko and Borovkov states, “Everything that happens inside the prison remains unknown to anyone outside,” underscoring the isolation and lack of transparency faced by those held inside.
The hunger strike is a desperate plea for attention to the plight of asylum seekers and other immigrants who are locked up without individualized assessments of danger or flight risk. As one supporter put it, “The main thing for me is that you don’t croak.” This stark sentiment reflects the life-and-death stakes that detainees and their families feel. The action at Folkston is part of a broader pattern of protests inside ICE detention centers, where immigrants often lack access to adequate legal representation, medical care, and basic information about their cases.
ICE and GEO Group have not yet responded publicly to the hunger strike. Advocates are calling for immediate reforms, including individualized bond hearings and improved conditions. The strike continues as detainees refuse meals, demanding that their voices be heard beyond the walls of the facility. For now, the men at Folkston remain resolute, hoping their sacrifice will draw attention to the injustices they say they endure daily.
Shimanta Das 
