New spate of stabbings, overdoses and fires at Australian immigration detention centres run by ICE-linked US prison firm

Sydney’s Villawood immigration detention centre, where eight fires were reported to have been lit between February and May. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/Reuters

A new spate of stabbings, overdoses and drug use in Australia’s immigration detention centres has put the Australian government in likely breach of laws designed to protect staff and detainees, internal documents show.

Earlier this year, Guardian Australia revealed catastrophic security failings across Australia’s onshore immigration network since Management and Training Corporation – a US private prison company used by Donald Trump to hold ICE detainees – won the $2.3bn detention contract in late 2024.