top of page
Stand-With-Sanjar-logo

Florida Baker Correctional Institution ICE Detention: Inside Conditions, Detainee Rights, and What Supporters Must Know

  • standwithsanjar
  • Apr 24
  • 3 min read
barbed wire outside prison like at Florida Baker Correctional Institute ICE detention facility

What Is Florida Baker Correctional Institution ICE Detention?


Florida Baker Correctional Institution is a detention site in Sanderson, Florida currently used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold individuals in immigration custody.


Facility Details:

  • Address: 20706 US-90 W, Sanderson, FL 32087

  • Visitor Information: (386) 719-4500

  • ICE ERO Office (Krome, Miami): (305) 207-2101


This facility is part of the broader ICE detention system, where individuals are held while their immigration cases are pending.



History of Florida Baker Correctional Institute


Florida Baker Correctional Institution was originally opened in 1978 as a state prison under the Florida Department of Corrections.

  • Designed to house over 1,000 inmates

  • Closed in 2021 due to staffing shortages

  • Repurposed in 2025 into an immigration detention facility


Its transition from a state prison to an ICE detention center is critical context. Immigration detention is legally classified as civil detention, not criminal incarceration - yet many facilities, including Baker, operate in ways that closely resemble prison environments.


Facilities like Florida Baker Correctional Institution ICE detention facility are increasingly being used to detain individuals who:

  • Have pending immigration or asylum cases

  • Have lived in the U.S. for years

  • May have valid work authorization or legal status under review


This creates a growing concern.

People in civil immigration proceedings are being held in prison-like conditions.



Inside Florida Baker: Firsthand Conditions Being Reported

The following information comes from direct phone calls with a detainee currently inside the facility.


Overcrowding and Living Conditions

  • Dorms house up to ~100 individuals in a shared space

  • Beds are tightly packed, approximately 2 feet apart

  • Limited access to:

    • Phones (~9 phones per dorm)

    • Toilets (~4-5)

    • Showers (~4-5)


Detainees describe the environment as extremely overcrowded with little personal space.

Food Access and Nutrition

Reported concerns include:

  • Very small food portions

  • Meals served at unusual hours (e.g., breakfast around 4:30 AM)

  • Ongoing hunger among detainees


Additionally, there are repeated reports of:

  • Denied or delayed religious diets (no pork, halal)

  • Vegetarian requests not being honored


Multiple formal requests for dietary accommodations have reportedly been submitted without resolution.

Hygiene and Basic Necessities

Accounts indicate inconsistent access to:

  • Toilet paper (temporary shortages reported)

  • Soap and hygiene supplies

  • Clean bedding and clothing


Some detainees report:

  • Wearing the same clothes for extended periods

  • Washing personal items manually in sinks

Medical Access and Medication Issues

Reported issues include:

  • Delays in receiving medication

  • Medication given at incorrect times, reducing effectiveness

  • Long wait times to access medical staff


Requests for medical care must often go through formal systems, which can take days or weeks.

Communication Barriers

  • Calls are limited to 15 minutes

  • High demand for phone creates:

    • Long lines

    • Frequent conflicts


Even when calls are free, access is limited due to overcrowding.



Legal Rights of ICE Detainees


Even in detention, individuals retain legal protections under U.S. law.


Right to Legal Representation

Right to Humane Treatment

ICE detention standards require:

  • Safe, sanitary conditions

  • Protection from harm

  • Access to food, water, and shelter


These are outlined in ICE's National Detention Standards (NDS).

Right to Medical Care

ICE standards require:

  • Access to necessary medical treatment

  • Intake screenings

  • Ongoing care for chronic conditions

Right to Religious Practice and Diet

ICE policy includes:

  • Access to religious practice

  • Accommodation of religious diets

Right to Communication

Detainees must have:

  • Access to legal counsel

  • Ability to communicate with family

  • Access to grievance/request systems



Why Supporter Awareness Matters


Understanding what's happening inside Florida Baker Correctional Institution is critical because:

  • Immigration detection is civil, not criminal

  • Conditions can directly impact:

    • Health

    • legal outcomes

    • emotional well-being


When supports stay informed and engaged, it can:

  • Increase accountability

  • Support legal advocacy

  • Ensure detainees are not forgotten



How You Can Support Someone Detained Here


If you are supporting someone at Florida Baker:

  • Stay in consistent communication

  • Support legal representation efforts

  • Document concerns factually

  • Share verified updates responsibly

  • Advocate through appropriate channels


Links to Learn More:

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page