Department of Homeland Security releases report on treatment of immigrants at Yuma Sector holding facility

The report states most populations were treated properly, but single men faced less than ideal conditions - 13 On Your Side's Luis Lopez reports

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Department of Homeland Security says the Yuma Sector is generally meeting standards when it comes to processing immigrants.

But when it came to processing single adult men last September, the Office of Inspector General says things weren't up to par.

A rare look inside the migrant holding facility in Yuma provided by the Office of Inspector General.

Part of a report is based off an unannounced visit to the facility last September showing what single male immigrants were experiencing at the time.

The report cites overcrowding as an issue, with some of the men packed together in tents.

Temperatures rising as high as 95 degrees, others being held outside, in temps of up to 105 degrees.

The report details Yuma also experienced a migrant surge during that same time.

Referencing an apprehension increase of over one-thousand percent from fiscal year 2020 to 2021, I spoke to one Venezuelan man who was being held in the facility since Monday.

He was released Wednesday and detailed some of the conditions he faced.

''When I told them I'm from Venezuela they treated me really well, but then when they realized I have a Mexican residence, they started treating me badly," the man said.

"They told me, okay then we are going to treat you as a Mexican because that's what you are, then I said let me explain the situation and they said, 'no, you don't need me to give me any explanations you are a resident so you are going back to Mexico,' and they deported me the next day."

The man who spoke to us was actually deported back over to San Luis, Mexico, which is where he’s currently staying in a migrant shelter there.

We have reached out to customs and border protection to get reaction to this report, and are waiting to hear back.