In an episode airing in March 2025, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” shined a light on U.S. immigration detention and how it jeopardizes the health, rights, and lives of people who are detained. The harrowing segment highlights two studies published in 2024 by PHR and partners:
- “‘Endless Nightmare’: Torture and Inhuman Treatment in Solitary Confinement in U.S. Immigration Detention” documented how ICE has used solitary confinement more than 14,000 times over just five years, with an average duration of 27 days (co-published with Harvard Law).
- “Deadly Failures: Preventable Deaths in U.S. Immigration Detention” documented how 95% of deaths in ICE custody were preventable or possibly preventable if appropriate medical care had been provided (co-published with the ACLU and American Oversight).
PHR continues to call for safe, humane, and effective alternatives to detention. Watch highlights from the segment above or click here to watch the full video on YouTube.
