Detainees Report Skin Woes as Torrance County Water Crisis Deepens

Detainees at the Torrance County Detention Facility, a privately run immigration detention center in Estancia, New Mexico, are reporting skin rashes and irritation they attribute to the facility's tap water. The complaints come as the surrounding community grapples with a declared water emergency, raising questions about water quality and oversight at the facility. Several detainees have described dry, itchy skin and outbreaks of dermatitis, conditions they say began or worsened after relying on the facility's water for drinking and bathing.

The detention center, operated by CoreCivic under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), draws its water from the same local aquifer that serves the town of Estancia and other parts of Torrance County. The region has been under a water emergency since late 2024, when elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium and arsenic were detected in several wells. While the state Environment Department has issued guidance for residents—including recommendations for bottled water use—detainees inside the facility say they have limited access to alternative water sources and have been using the tap water for all purposes, including drinking and showering.

Water Quality Concerns Extend Beyond the Fence

Detainees report skin irritation, rashes, and dryness, which they link directly to the water. Medical staff at the facility have not publicly confirmed a causal link, but the consistency of the complaints suggests a systemic issue. The detention center is required to meet federal and state water quality standards, but the aging infrastructure in Torrance County, combined with drought conditions and contamination from naturally occurring minerals, has put the entire area's water supply under strain. The facility's water comes from the same local wells that serve the county, and those wells have shown elevated levels of uranium, arsenic, and other contaminants in recent tests.

The situation raises uncomfortable questions about environmental justice. The detainees, many of whom are held for civil immigration violations, are a captive population with no choice but to consume the water provided. Local residents, meanwhile, have been under a boil-water advisory for weeks, with some relying on bottled water deliveries. The county has declared a state of emergency, but the detention center's water has not been independently tested, leaving detainees and advocates concerned that the same contaminants affecting the broader community are also affecting the facility's water supply.

Advocacy groups are calling for immediate testing and for the facility to be provided with alternative water sources. The detention center's management has stated that the water meets federal safety standards, but detainees report that the water has a strange odor and color, and that their skin conditions have only worsened since the emergency was declared. The county's water emergency, caused by a combination of drought, aging infrastructure, and contamination from nearby industrial activity, has left residents reliant on bottled water. Detainees, however, do not have that option, raising concerns about equitable treatment.

This situation underscores the broader crisis in rural New Mexico, where water quality is often compromised. For the detainees, the issue is compounded by their lack of agency—they cannot simply switch to bottled water or move to a different location. The county's water emergency is a public health crisis for everyone, but for those in detention, it is a reminder of their vulnerability. As the investigation continues, the question remains: will the response be swift enough to prevent further harm, and will the water crisis in Torrance County be addressed in a way that protects all residents, including those behind bars?