FOLKSTON, Georgia — Georgia's two U.S. senators have asked federal officials to investigate whether officers at the Folkston ICE Processing Center retaliated against detainees taking part in a hunger strike, including by placing at least 13 protesters in solitary confinement, The Current GA reported on Saturday, October 24.
Source: The Current GA, Oct. 24, 2026
In a letter on Thursday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the department's inspector general, Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff urged an immediate investigation and an unannounced inspection to ensure the facility in Charlton County, about 50 miles southwest of Brunswick, is complying with federal detention standards, The Current GA reported. The senators cited what they described as reports of medical neglect and retaliation in response to the hunger strike, and asked how many hunger strikers, if any, had received a medical evaluation or been taken offsite for hospital care.
Source: The Current GA, Oct. 24, 2026
The Current GA noted that the claim that at least 13 detainees were put in solitary confinement, which the senators attributed to reports from local advocates, could not be independently confirmed, though the wife of one hunger striker told the outlet last week that her husband had been placed in isolation. Attempts to contact detention center officials on Saturday were unsuccessful, the outlet said. About 500 detainees began the hunger strike in the first week of October to protest conditions at Folkston and prolonged detention, according to The Current GA's earlier reporting.
Civil rights and watchdog groups are also seeking records. American Oversight, the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta said on October 23 that they had filed expedited public-records requests into ICE's response to the strike, including whether officials considered forced feeding or other medical interventions. The groups said detainees released a video on October 4 calling attention to prolonged detention, and that the strike, which began two days later, protests conditions that detainees and advocates allege include moldy food, insects in drinking water, unsanitary conditions, inadequate medical treatment and abuse by staff. Those condition claims are allegations by detainees and advocates and have not been adjudicated.
Source: American Oversight / Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Oct. 23, 2026
On Saturday, ICE announced that Luis Sandoval, a 48-year-old man from El Salvador held at Folkston, had died in custody on October 23. At about 1:46 a.m., facility staff found Sandoval with a ligature around his neck and began life-saving measures, and Charlton County Emergency Medical Services provided additional care, ICE said. He was pronounced dead at about 2:28 a.m. His death is under investigation and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death, ICE said.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Oct. 24, 2026
ICE said Sandoval entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location without being admitted or inspected, was arrested by ICE Newark on October 2 and issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge, and arrived at Folkston on October 8 pending his first removal hearing. ICE listed a criminal history for Sandoval that it said includes convictions for aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking, as well as a drug possession charge. ICE said required notifications were completed to the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE Office of Inspector General and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. The ICE statement did not say whether Sandoval was a current or past participant in the hunger strike, The Current GA reported.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Oct. 24, 2026
Sandoval is the second person to die in custody at Folkston, The Current GA reported. Jaspal Singh died there on April 15, 2024, after he was placed under medical observation following complaints of chest pain and was later found unresponsive; an ICE review found the facility's medical care contributed to his death, according to The Current GA. Daniela Rodriguez, co-founder and executive director of Migrant Equity Southeast, said in a statement to The Current GA that the group supports the senators' inquiry and is deeply concerned about reports of punishment and retaliation against those speaking out.