Florence Correctional Center
Florence, Arizona · 17 well-documented stories
What stands out here
Conditions that appear in a larger share of this facility's stories than of facility stories in general. Stories run from Jan 2025 to Sep 2026.
Nothing stands out against facilities in general; the most documented conditions here:
- Medical requests ignored29% vs 14%
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Solitary confinement12% vs 4%
Placed in isolation or segregation.
- Died in custody or soon after12% vs 5%
The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.
share of stories hereacross all facilities
Everything the stories describe here
- Medical requests ignored · 5 stories
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Solitary confinement · 2 stories
Placed in isolation or segregation.
- Died in custody or soon after · 2 stories
The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.
- Food or water withheld · 2 stories
The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.
- Shackled or chained · 1 story
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
- Injury needing medical treatment · 1 story
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
- Tackled, pinned, or thrown down · 1 story
The person was tackled, slammed, pinned to the ground, or thrown against a surface.
- Hunger strike · 1 story
The person or a group refused food in protest.
- Punished for complaining or organizing · 1 story
Isolation, transfer, lost privileges, or threats after the person complained, filed a grievance, spoke to media, organized, or joined a hunger strike.
- Pepper spray, tear gas, or taser · 1 story
Agents used pepper spray, tear gas, a taser, or similar on the person or a crowd.
- Overcrowding · 1 story
Held in a space far over capacity: a holding cell, a bus, an airport facility, a tent.
- Extreme heat or cold · 1 story
Held in a freezing or dangerously hot space (hieleras, no heat, no air conditioning in summer).
- No bed, sleep, or basic hygiene · 1 story
Slept on the floor, no bed or blanket, lights on all night, no shower, no toilet access, or similar.
In their words
“They said DACA is no longer considered a legal status in the U.S. I told them he has a work permit, that he’s working. They said it doesn’t matter. They opened the car door and detained him,”
“I’m here fighting, facing each new day.”
Stories
Edgar M.: Phoenix man detained by ICE after agents allegedly posed as electriciansEdgar Martinez, 33, a Phoenix man applying for a visa as a trafficking victim, was detained after agents posing as electricians cut his power to lure him outside. His family is raising funds for his bond.Mesa, AZ · Sep 15, 2026 · AZ Family, Mundo Now, La Opinión +1
Guillermo G.B.: Arizona father denied medical care in ICE custody now relies on caneGuillermo "Memo" Gallardo Barrera, a longtime Arizona construction worker and father of two, has spent over a year in detention and now can't walk without a cane, with no diagnosis given.Gilbert, AZ · Aug 16, 2026 · Conecta Arizona, PACER Monitor
Vlad: Russian asylum seeker who feared conscription deported by ICE to MoscowVlad, 23, a Russian asylum seeker living in Tucson with his partner, was deported to Moscow after missing a hearing, fearing conscription or imprisonment over his opposition to the war in Ukraine.Tucson, AZ · Jul 20, 2026 · Tucson.com, AZPM- Cuban asylum seeker deported by ICE to Ecuador after hunger strikesA Cuban asylum seeker held at Florence Correctional Center staged hunger strikes over detention conditions, then was placed in solitary confinement and deported to Ecuador, ending his U.S. legal case.Florence, AZ · Jul 13, 2026 · Arizona Mirror, News from the States
Seven detainees confirmed with measles at Arizona ICE facilitySeven detainees tested positive for measles at an Arizona ICE facility, with more quarantined at nearby centers. Lawmakers are demanding details on medical care and legal access during the lockdown.Arizona, AZ · Jul 7, 2026 · Tucson.com, AZ Family, KJZZ +4
Jose Angel M.: Phoenix resident of 18 years deported by ICE, separated from 11-year-old daughterJose Angel Mireles, 48, a longtime Phoenix resident, was deported to Mexico after a traffic stop citation, now living in a Nogales shelter separated from his 11-year-old daughter.“I’m here fighting, facing each new day.” — Jose Angel MirelesPhoenix, AZ · Apr 27, 2026 · KJZZ, LinkedIn- Ramon M.T.: Young man with leukemia detained by ICE, shackled during chemotherapyRamon Mendez-Tum (a pseudonym), a 24-year-old with leukemia, was detained at a traffic stop heading to chemotherapy, then shackled during hospital stays and cut off from lawyers for months. A judge finally ordered his release.Florence, AZ · Apr 2026 · Firrp
Emmanuel D.: Haitian asylum seeker dies from untreated tooth infection in ICE custodyEmmanuel Damas, 56, died of sepsis from an untreated tooth infection at Florence Correctional Center after repeatedly asking for dental care and receiving only ibuprofen for two weeks.Florence, AZ · Mar 2, 2026 · CBS News, Oxford Law Blogs, U.S. House of Representatives +2
Flor V.L.: DACA mother of two detained by ICE while Christmas shopping in PhoenixFlor Ivet Vargas-Loya, a DACA recipient and restaurant owner, is the sole provider for her two children after her husband's deportation. She was handcuffed while Christmas shopping in Phoenix despite wearing an ankle monitor.Arizona · Dec 31, 2025 · The Arizona Republic, Threads, Univision +3
Victor P.P.: Venezuelan asylum seeker, father of U.S.-citizen twins, self-deported after months in detentionVictor Peralta Perez, a Venezuelan electrician and father of U.S.-citizen twin infants, was held over 100 days across facilities with reported mold and poor care before leaving the country in late February.El Paso, TX · Dec 4, 2025 · Newsweek, The Ravenna Report
Yassine H.: UA student held a month by ICE over clerical visa issueYassine Halhoul, 21, a University of Arizona aerospace engineering student from Morocco, spent a month in ICE detention over a clerical visa issue, describing poor food and sleep conditions before being released on an ankle monitor in November.Tucson, AZ · Oct 21, 2025 · Arizona Wildcat, Tucson News Now, WVUA 23 +1
Lorenzo B.V.: Diabetic Mexican man, 32, dies after contracting COVID-19 in ICE custodyLorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas, 32, remembered by family as loving and generous, died in ICE custody near Phoenix after contracting COVID-19 while diabetic. His death was the 14th migrant death in custody in 2025.Florence, AZ · Aug 31, 2025 · Physicians for Human Rights, CBS News, Excélsior +2
Jose V.: DACA recipient detained by Border Patrol after Yuma traffic stopJose Valdovinos, a 27-year-old DACA recipient who has lived in Arizona since toddlerhood and works packaging dates, was detained after a traffic stop near Yuma with no explanation given. He was later released with an ankle monitor.“They said DACA is no longer considered a legal status in the U.S. I told them he has a work permit, that he’s working. They said it doesn’t matter. They opened the car door and detained him,” — Jitzell FloresYuma, AZ · Aug 13, 2025 · ACLU, AZ Family, KAWC +1- Arizona-raised woman deported after ICE raid on Colt Grill restaurantA 23-year-old woman raised in Cottonwood, Arizona since infancy and a high school graduate was arrested when ICE raided the restaurant where she worked, then deported to Mexico, separated from her three citizen brothers.Cottonwood, AZ · Jul 15, 2025 · USA Today, The Arizona Republic, Copper Courier +2
Stepfather of two detained by immigration agents outside Tucson hospitalA Mexican man who had lived in Tucson for nearly 15 years was detained outside a hospital while accompanying his cousin for emergency care. He is held at Florence Correctional Center, with a hearing set for May 15.Tucson, AZ · May 2025 · ACLU, KOLD, Tucson.com
Jose H.: U.S. citizen held 10 days despite birth certificate proofJose Hermosillo, 19, a U.S. citizen from Albuquerque, was held 10 days at Florence Correctional Center after seeking help during a medical emergency. A judge dismissed the case and he was freed.Tucson, Arizona · Apr 17, 2025 · Arizona Public Media, Pueblo Chieftain, Peoria Journal Star +6
Marlon P.: Iraq War veteran in U.S. 30 years held by ICE, ordered deportedMarlon Parris, 45, an Iraq War veteran who came from Trinidad and Tobago as a child and held a green card for nearly 30 years, remains held since January 22 after a judge ruled deportation could proceed.Laveen, AZ · Jan 22, 2025 · KJZZ, CNN, The Arizona Republic +2
Where people stood at the latest report
Each square is one percent of these stories. Read it with care: people who are still detained or already deported have far less access to reporters and lawyers than people who were released, so this mix reflects who gets covered more than how cases end.
- Died 12%
- Deported 24%
- Self-deported 6%
- Still detained 29%
- Released 24%
- Unknown 6%