Government Report Finds Problems at Louisiana Immigration Center

A government watchdog group found serious problems at an immigration detention center in Louisiana. The report said guards used dangerous moves on people held there. One guard used a chokehold, which is not allowed. Another guard stabbed someone's hand with a pen.

The problems happened at Winn Correctional Center in central Louisiana. This center holds people who are waiting to find out if they can stay in the United States. The Department of Homeland Security watchdog group visited without warning. They looked at videos of what the guards did.

The report also found that the building was not kept clean and safe. Water was leaking from vents and ceilings. Pieces of insulation were falling down. Workers used napkins and foam containers to catch the dripping water.

More than 60,000 people are held in immigration centers like this one across the country. Many people are worried about how these centers are run. On Wednesday, government officials talked about these concerns in Congress. Some lawmakers said people in these centers don't get enough food or medical care.

Winn Correctional Center is one of the biggest immigration detention centers in America. It holds more than 1,500 men. The facility first opened in 1990 as a state prison. The immigration agency took it over in 2019.