Inspector General Finds Chokehold, Pepper Spray and 25% Overcrowding at Krome

A DHS Office of Inspector General report issued September 11 found that during an unannounced inspection, Krome North Service Processing Center held 1,102 men against a capacity of 882 — 25% over — with five of 11 housing units above their posted limits, men kept more than 12 hours in intake and sleeping on temporary cots or the floor, and six units failing the required toilet-to-population ratio. Reviewing 5 of the 44 use-of-force incidents staff logged between November 2024 and May 2025, inspectors found two noncompliant: pepper spray used on a detainee who offered no resistance and was transferred out rather than medically evaluated, and an officer applying a choke hold during a cell search when the man posed no imminent deadly threat. Inspectors also cited improperly thawed and stored food, detainee requests left unanswered past three days and an inadequate medical grievance system. ICE concurred with all nine recommendations but told the Herald that claims of subprime conditions were false; an earlier inspection of Krome in 2023 had already found improper pepper spray use and choke holds.