Our Voices

The Intercept: New York’s Largest ICE Prison Dogged by Allegations of Shoddy Medical Care

This new investigation into the Buffalo Federal Detention Center exposes deeply troubling human rights violations. The reported cases— ranging from untreated frostbite leading to amputations to denial of essential heart medications— reflect a pattern of horrific medical neglect inside New York’s largest ICE prison.

The evidence of delayed care, staff shortages, and deletion of medical requests at Batavia suggests a failure to meet even ICE’s own detention standards.

The facility is now the subject of several lawsuits, including by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and partners. 
Read the full report here.

Learn more about our work to expose the facility’s long history of abuse and retaliation here.

New year, new us. Same mission.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is rebranding to honor the legacy of our founder and hero, Mrs. Ethel Skakel Kennedy. From now on, we will proudly be known as the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

While our name is changing, our mission and work remain the same. We will continue to fight injustice, advance human rights, and hold governments accountable around the world in 2026 and beyond.