Folkston ICE Processing Center
Folkston, Georgia · 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 Sep 2025 to Oct 2026.
- Hunger strike18% vs 2%
The person or a group refused food in protest.
- Food or water withheld18% vs 10%
The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.
share of stories hereacross all facilities
Everything the stories describe here
- Hunger strike · 3 stories
The person or a group refused food in protest.
- Food or water withheld · 3 stories
The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.
- Medical requests ignored · 2 stories
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Died in custody or soon after · 2 stories
The person died while detained, during transport, or within days of release or deportation.
- Shackled or chained · 2 stories
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
- 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.
- Solitary confinement · 1 story
Placed in isolation or segregation.
- 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.
- Medication withheld · 1 story
Prescribed medication (insulin, HIV drugs, psychiatric medication, seizure drugs, chemotherapy) was taken, withheld, or not provided.
- Abuse or threats by staff · 1 story
Beatings, threats, humiliation, slurs, or theft by guards or staff.
- Tackled, pinned, or thrown down · 1 story
The person was tackled, slammed, pinned to the ground, or thrown against a surface.
- Injury needing medical treatment · 1 story
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
- 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).
- Firearm drawn or fired · 1 story
Agents drew or fired a gun.
In their words
“So it's very, very hard and very difficult for our family to see him go through this nightmare.”
Stories
Andrei M.: Russian asylum seeker on hunger strike after months in Georgia ICE facilityAndrei Mikhailov, a Russian immigrant who fled after criticizing his government, has been held at a Georgia facility since February and is now on a hunger strike awaiting a new asylum hearing.FL · Oct 12, 2026 · NBC Chicago, The Insider
Idris M.: Hunger-striking Russian asylum seeker deported after 27 months in ICE custodyIdris Makhmudov, a Russian asylum seeker held nearly 27 months without charges, helped organize a hunger strike over detention conditions before being deported after refusing food and water for four days.Folkston, GA · Oct 12, 2026 · The Guardian, The Verge, Factum +3- About 500 on hunger strike over conditions at Folkston ICE facilityAbout 500 detainees, including 372 men in one building, launched a hunger strike at Georgia's Folkston ICE facility over undrinkable water, inadequate food and medical care, and prolonged detention.Folkston, GA · Oct 6, 2026 · The Current GA, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Johnny L.B.: Ecuadorian man says ICE agents beat him unconscious at Georgia detention centerJohnny Sebastián Lucas Barre, 38, an Ecuadorian man held at Folkston, says agents beat him unconscious after he refused to sign deportation papers without a lawyer present.Folkston, GA · Oct 3, 2026 · Univision, Zócalo, 2001 Online +1
Angel C.S.: Decatur father seeking asylum arrested by ICE outside his homeAngel Ivan Chavez Salas, an HVAC technician and father of two in Decatur, was arrested outside his home while pursuing an asylum case. Students raised nearly $20,000, and a judge granted him $10,000 bond.Decatur, GA · Sep 8, 2026 · Atlanta News First, WRDW
Yaa'kub V.: DACA journalist arrested at gunpoint by ICE over Gaza postsYaa'kub Ira Vijandre, a 38-year-old Filipino-born DACA recipient and journalist who lived in the Dallas area over 20 years, was arrested at gunpoint over his Gaza photojournalism. A judge has since let him keep seeking release.Arlington, TX · Sep 2, 2026 · Dallas Morning News, MLFA, CNN +8
Homero C.: Venezuelan soccer pro with U.S. citizen children held by ICE five monthsHomero Calderón, a professional soccer player and father of two, has been held in Georgia for five months despite pending visa applications, missing his daughter's first birthday.“So it's very, very hard and very difficult for our family to see him go through this nightmare.” — Ramón Calderón, his brotherFL · Aug 15, 2026 · KNPR, NPR, VPM
Allison A.: Transgender former Israeli intelligence officer transferred to ICE a day after paroleAvishay Alon, a transgender former Israeli intelligence specialist who later worked as a computer engineer, was moved into ICE custody in Georgia after completing a state sentence, with a lawsuit over his treatment still pending.Concord, NH · Aug 1, 2026 · The NYL Ledger, Washington Times, New Bedford Guide +2
Argenis T.R.: Asylum seeker with work permit detained at NC swimming hole ICE checkpointArgenis Eduardo Torres Rosales, 32, a Venezuelan asylum seeker with a work permit, was detained at a checkpoint near a North Carolina swimming hole and is now held 433 miles from his wife and stepson.Morganton, NC · Jul 28, 2026 · NC Local, WFAE, Charlotte Observer +10
Hickory legal resident held by ICE in Georgia after Wilson Creek raidA 32-year-old legal resident from Hickory was detained during a July 26 raid at Wilson Creek, one of 13 people arrested. His aunt says he followed all legal processes; he is now held in Georgia.Caldwell County, NC · Jul 26, 2026 · Charlotte Observer, News Topic News, Enlace Latino NC
Elder A.M.: High school soccer captain detained by ICE after traffic stop, misses graduationElder Yuvini Aguilar Macario, 19, a soccer captain at Trion High School who had started welding classes, was detained after a traffic stop and missed his graduation; classmates gave him a standing ovation in absentia.Walker County, GA · Jul 19, 2026 · Times Free Press, Local 3 News, All On Georgia
Jesús Manuel A.S.: Venezuelan man dies on ICE transfer bus, sister says medication withheldJesús Manuel Arenas-Silva, 45, died on a bus transfer between Georgia detention centers after his family said ICE withheld most of his needed medication. He had called his sister from custody saying he wasn't getting his medication.Ocilla, GA · Jul 14, 2026 · NBC San Diego, Austin Kocher, Eastern New Mexico News +5
Ecuadorian man arrested by ICE at NYC immigration court despite judge's orderAn Ecuadorian man who fled persecution and attended a required immigration hearing at 26 Federal Plaza was arrested there and transferred to a Georgia detention center.New York, NY · Jun 26, 2026 · The Intercept
Axel A.R.: High school junior brought to U.S. at 4 deported to HondurasAxel Gerardo Archaga Rios, 18, a Dunwoody High School junior who came to the U.S. at age 4, was deported to Honduras after a traffic stop and is now living with his grandmother.Dunwoody, GA · May 3, 2026 · Atlanta News First, CBS News, Yahoo News +4
Jimmy P.: Georgia man with heart transplant and TPS detained by ICEJimmy Paz, who has lived in the U.S. for 21 years and had a heart transplant four years ago, was detained during a January traffic stop despite showing valid ID.Folkston, GA · Feb 10, 2026 · WRDW, Atlanta News First, 11Alive +1
Williams T.E.: Man with end-stage kidney disease held by ICE, allegedly denied dialysisWilliams Javier Toro Enamorado, 27, has end-stage kidney disease and was detained while traveling to dialysis on Nov. 19. He says he was denied treatment and now sits in Georgia, far from his North Carolina family.Charlotte, NC · Dec 4, 2025 · The Mirror, CourtListener
South Korean Hyundai workers shackled and held in cold cells in GeorgiaOver 300 South Korean workers detained in a September 2025 Georgia battery plant raid have filed federal claims, alleging they were shackled, denied interpreters, and held in cold, overcrowded cells. One worker said he lost nearly 10 pounds in custody.Ellabell, GA · Sep 4, 2025 · CNN, Latin Times, Pressure of Truth +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 6%
- Deported 12%
- Still detained 71%
- Released 12%