“Food! Please, Now!”: Leaked Video Allegedly Shows Distress Inside Louisiana ICE Facility, Prompts Outcry

A leaked video from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Louisiana has raised questions about the alleged inhumane treatment of immigrants. The clip, which is now going viral, shows a starving man begging for food from the center’s authorities.

The man is seen screaming for food, while others support him with whistles. However, he does not receive anything to eat by the end of the video. The clip has sparked backlash on social media, with many criticizing the government for the lack of basic facilities at ICE centers.

According to the X account @LongTimeHistory, an individual who was earlier detained at the center revealed that authorities never paid heed to detainees’ requests. “I was there! No matter what you do, nobody pays attention to you," said the individual, identified as Victor Nery.

Another immigrant claimed the detainees were forced to starve as they were only provided with potato puree. “They say 'food' because they made us endure hunger with only potato puree,” El Salvador native Chris said.

Since the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, thousands have been held in detention centers. Over the past year and a half, several human rights activists have claimed that these centers lack adequate facilities, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denies these allegations.

In January 2026, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana released a report after interviewing more than 2,000 detainees. The report stated that immigrants were being kept in unhygienic conditions and had limited access to food, water, and medical care. According to the report, detainees complained of mice at the facility, garbage on the floors, mold and rust in their dorms, and metal shavings in the drinking water.

“Individuals described their conditions as living like animals. They reported that food sits out for hours and is served unpredictably. When asked by immigrants for specific mealtimes, the staff are reportedly nonresponsive,” the report read.

“Physical conditions deprived them of other necessities, such as minimally-nutritious food and potable drinking water, sanitary conditions of confinement, basic hygiene supplies, and access to sunlight and outdoor recreation,” it further read.

However, the DHS has maintained that ICE facilities provide proper meals and medical care to the detainees. “Any claim that there are “inhumane” conditions at ICE detention centers are categorically false. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members,” former Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

“It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an individual enters ICE custody. This is the best healthcare that many aliens have received in their entire lives,” she added. However, the release of the Louisiana detention center video has once again brought the DHS under scrutiny. The department has yet to respond to the clip.