Homestead detention center exposed migrant children to toxins and noise

Newly released federal records from litigation reveal that migrant children were exposed to toxic substances and high noise levels at the now-closed Homestead migrant detention center near Miami, Florida.

The facility, which closed in 2019, was located adjacent to the Homestead Air Reserve Base, a federally designated Superfund site with a history of contamination. Documents released through a lawsuit by Earthjustice and the American Friends Service Committee indicate that children as young as six were housed near chemicals such as arsenic and lead, which are linked to cancer, organ damage, and developmental harm.

In addition to chemical exposure, children were subjected to constant noise from F-16C fighter jets. The records suggest these noise levels are connected to potential cognitive problems and developmental delays. Despite the proximity to 16 pollution sources, the documents show that no environmental hazard evaluations or cleanups were conducted for the site during its operation.