During our unannounced inspection of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Buffalo Federal Detention Facility (Buffalo) in Batavia, New York, we found that Buffalo’s staff generally complied with Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011, as revised in December 2016, for facility conditions, kitchen standards, legal access, medical care, recreation (general population only), and the voluntary work program. However, facility and ICE staff did not fully comply with standards related to the use of force, staff-detainee communication, detainee grievances, recreation in the Special Management Unit (SMU), classification, admission and release, and medical unit staffing.
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We found one instance of an inappropriate use of force and two instances where facility staff should have used calculated rather than immediate force.
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ICE did not always provide timely responses to detainee requests. Facility staff did not maintain an accurate or complete log for paper requests, nor did they always provide responses to detainee grievances within the required 5 days or capture all response dates in the grievance log. Likewise, the Grievance Appeal Board did not always conduct reviews within 5 days of each appeal.
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Buffalo facility staff did not provide detainees in the SMU with exercise equipment in the outdoor space, prevent detainees of different classification levels from comingling in the same holding area, ensure detainees could hear or view captions for the orientation video, or ensure detainees’ identification wristbands were legible and always worn.
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Vacant dentist and physician positions caused delays in care.
Title Full
Results of an Unannounced Inspection of ICE's Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, New York
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Homeland Security OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Homeland Security
Report Number
OIG-25-24
Report Description
Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
10
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No
External Entity
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2025-06/OIG-25-24-Jun25.pdf
Open Recommendations
This report has 1 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
Ensure ICE staff respond to all detainee requests within the required 3 business days. |