Congresswoman Nikema Williams Demands Oversight on ICE Atlanta Office

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to demand oversight and transparency about the conditions in which detainees are held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office at 180 Ted Turner Drive in Atlanta.

Recent reporting reveals a facility that is overwhelmed and unprepared to house people overnight. This field office is in a basement and does not have beds, showers, or space for detainees to meet with counsel. The field office contains just four holding cells, two single-occupancy cells, and an interview room. Per US Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance, detainees are not to be held in field offices for longer than twelve hours. Nonetheless, in the past six months alone, nearly 1200 people have been forced to stay at least twenty-four hours in poor conditions. Roughly 300 people were detained in the field office for between three and five days. Over the summer, fifty to seventy people were regularly housed in these few rooms overnight.

Congresswoman Nikema Williams wrote:

“Overcrowding, harsh conditions, and limited facilities jeopardize the health and safety of detainees, who may not have adequate access to medical care or counsel.

Given the frequency with which detainees are now held at the Atlanta Field Offices for longer periods, it is urgent that conditions be assessed and improved.”

Congresswoman Nikema Williams asked that the following questions be answered by October 31, 2025:

• How many people are detained at the Atlanta Field Office on an average night? Where do they sleep, and in what conditions?
• Please provide a breakdown of individuals detained for more than 12 hours at the Atlanta Field Office who are:
  • U.S. citizens
  • Pregnant
  • Over the age of 60
  • Under age 18
• What are your procedures to evaluate the medical needs of detained people and who is tasked with this responsibility? Please describe the training for these individuals and a copy of any training documents.
• When an individual is identified with a serious medical or mental health issue or disability, what are your procedures to ensure the individual has timely access to appropriate care?
• Are detainees being given meals every six hours as required by ICE ERO Holding Facilities policy? If not, how frequently do individuals receive meals?
• How can detained individuals communicate in a timely manner with their attorneys or family members?
• What percentage of detainees are legally required to be detained, as opposed to eligible for parole? What is the process by which staff at the Atlanta Field Office assesses detainees for parole eligibility? What percentage of those eligible for parole remain detained longer than 24 hours?
• Please provide copies, with all necessary redactions, to all Detention Logs for detainees since January 20, 2025 for the Atlanta Field office.

Read the full letter here.