The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has condemned comedian Rosie O'Donnell for making what it described as "disgusting, reckless, and categorically FALSE" claims about conditions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. O'Donnell, in a TikTok video, alleged that detained immigrants are subjected to rape and that ICE facilities are akin to "concentration camps."
A DHS spokesman stated that O'Donnell's comments are contributing to a "1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,300% increase in vehicular attacks, and an 8,000% increase in death threats against them" officers. The spokesman also characterized comparisons of detention centers to World War II internment camps as "deranged and lazy."
Tom Homan, identified as a border czar, personally inspected a New Jersey ICE facility and refuted claims of inhumane conditions, hunger strikes, and mistreatment. He reported that the facility was well-maintained and even sampled the food served to detainees to verify its quality. "Democratic politicians were lying" about the conditions, Homan stated.
The DHS also pushed back on O'Donnell's specific claims regarding pregnant detainees, noting that pregnancies within ICE custody are rare, accounting for approximately 0.15% of detainees as of June 30. The department stated that pregnant detainees receive comprehensive medical care, including prenatal visits, mental health services, and nutritional support, in line with community standards. The department also asserted that ICE facilities maintain higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons holding citizens, providing detainees with three meals daily, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries, as well as access to phones.
The DHS spokesman criticized public figures for remaining silent on what they termed a "humanitarian crisis" manufactured by the Biden administration's border policies, and for not acknowledging exploited children. He added that under the Trump administration, ICE is focused on locating unaccompanied children trafficked into the country, contrasting this with what he called O'Donnell's tendency to spread "fake news."
O'Donnell has a history of criticizing the Trump administration and ICE enforcement. In July 2025, she previously compared ICE to Nazi Germany's Gestapo. The DHS spokesman noted that ICE arrests primarily target individuals charged or convicted of crimes in the U.S., with nearly 70% of arrests being of individuals with criminal charges or convictions.
The DHS also encouraged individuals in the U.S. illegally to take advantage of a program offering $3,000 and a flight for voluntary self-deportation, with the option to reapply legally later. "If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return," the spokesman concluded.