Detainees at an ICE center in Mississippi reported a gas odor and problems with the air conditioning

Detainees at the Adams County Detention Center in Mississippi reported a possible gas leak, after which some people experienced headaches and other symptoms. According to The Guardian, they also complained of being denied medical care. CoreCivic, the facility’s private operator, stated that no leak was found and that no one was denied treatment.

The wife of one of the detainees—whose name The Guardian is withholding due to fears of retaliation—said that the detainees were taken out of the building for several hours into the heat, which was close to 38°C, with no shade. According to her, the smell of gas was still present upon their return to the cells, and some of the men complained of feeling unwell. She also stated that cells designed to hold two people had begun to house three.

According to a detainee whom the publication contacted through his family, the power outage occurred on Monday. He claims that power was partially restored on Tuesday, but the air conditioning did not work until late Wednesday. People were either left in overcrowded cells or taken outside into the direct sunlight, he said. Amid these conditions, he said, arguments and physical altercations have become more frequent at the center.

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Ryan Huston, CoreCivic’s senior director of public relations, stated that several detainees may have smelled an odor they associated with natural gas, but facility staff did not confirm this. According to him, a maintenance worker inspected the facility and found no leaks. Hasting also stated that the storm-related power outage lasted about two hours, the generators operated normally, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems continued to function without interruption.

The center in Adams County, Natchez, is one of the largest immigration detention centers in the U.S. and the only specialized facility of its kind in Mississippi. In May, inspectors from ICE’s Detention Oversight Office identified 23 violations of standards regarding the use of force or restraints there. Due to these deficiencies, the facility’s rating was lowered from “highest” in 2025 to “acceptable/adequate” this year.