Allegations that go unreported and a lack of accountability for health care workers leave patients in the dark and increase the risk of abuse, research shows.
The plan would also include restarting the policy of detaining parents with their children, known as family detention, which immigration advocates have criticized.
U.S. spy agencies could be pushed to skew their findings to suit Trump's political agenda or, in a worst-case scenario, used to spy on domestic political opponents, former officials say.
Officials in Florida, Texas and Missouri said in recent days they wouldn't allow Justice Department monitors to do what they have been doing for almost 60 years.
Former officials fear Trump would force out DOJ and FBI officials who defy him and replace them with loyalists. Chaos, division and paralysis could ensue.