As immigration arrests rise, conditions in U.S. detention centers have reached their most dangerous point in recent history.

This year so far, 19 immigrants have died in detention — 10 between January and June. At the Everglades facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” advocates say more than 1,200 detainees are missing, with families and lawyers unable to locate them.

Of a record 59,762 people held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention as of September 21, 42,755 or about 71% have no criminal conviction, according to TRAC .

‘Cruelty is the point’

“I’ve talked to hundreds of detained asylum seekers, and I was frequently struck by how they’re treated like incarcerated criminals, despite many having no criminal record,” said Heather Hogan, policy and practice counsel at

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