Double amputee describes 'horrific' conditions in Georgia ICE custody
Norcross man details ICE custody treatment
Rodney Taylor has publicly spoken out about the alleged severe medical neglect and horrific treatment he received while detained by ICE in Georgia.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Double amputee Rodney Taylor spoke publicly Monday for the first time since being released from federal immigration detention after spending more than 15 months at the Stewart Detention Center.
What we know:
Taylor addressed supporters, lawmakers and family members during a news conference in Norcross, where he received a standing ovation.
The Gwinnett County resident was released from immigration detention after 473 days. His release follows a campaign led by his wife, family and lawmakers. Taylor, who came to the U.S. from Liberia as a child on a medical visa, was arrested in Loganville in 2025.
The arrest cited a burglary conviction from when Taylor was a teen. While his family stayed in the country, they were never granted American citizenship. Taylor called his freedom "surreal" and a testimony to what community action can achieve.
What they're saying:
During the news conference, Taylor described conditions inside Stewart Detention Center and said the facility was not properly equipped to care for people with disabilities.
"At one point, they refused to feed me for three weeks," Taylor said. He noted that without proper liners for his prosthetics, "walking was like walking directly on my knees against concrete."
He said his release felt surreal and admitted there were times he believed he would never leave detention.
Taylor is now calling for greater oversight of ICE facilities, stating they are not equipped to care for people with disabilities. He described the staffing levels and medical care as "dangerously inadequate."
Taylor also called the experience bittersweet because of the people he said remain detained or were deported.
"It was almost like a bittersweet for me," Taylor said. "So many people that I know personally that got deported that should have never happened to. That was the most heart-wrenching thing for me to understand."
Taylor thanked supporters who fought for his release and said he intends to continue speaking out on behalf of immigrants and detainees.
He described his release as proof of what communities can accomplish when working together.
What we don't know:
While Taylor has been released from detention, it is unclear what specific legal ruling led to his freedom. The current status of his underlying deportation case remains unknown as his legal proceedings continue to move through the courts.
What's next:
Taylor says he will not stay silent and plans to advocate for the rights of other detainees. He remains committed to ensuring that people held in these facilities are treated as human beings.