CALIFORNIA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warning about dangerous conditions at the California City Detention Facility.
Bonta said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this year opened a new detention center in California City — the largest in the state — without ensuring it was fully ready to house civil immigration detainees.
The warning follows four recent deaths at ICE facilities nationwide. ICE notices said detainees from Haiti, Nicaragua, Eritrea, and Bulgaria died between Dec. 12 and 15.
During an inspection conducted under Assembly Bill 103, the California Department of Justice identified serious facility issues and inadequate medical care at the California City location.
In his letter, Bonta cited inexperienced and insufficient staffing, incomplete records, due process concerns, and unsanitary living conditions.
“My team has seen and heard firsthand the dangerous conditions at California’s newest detention facility — conditions that violate ICE’s own standards. I implore DHS to take action to address these serious issues,” Bonta said.
Last month, DOJ staff toured the facility, interviewed staff and detainees, and reviewed medical and detention records.
They identified conditions that appear to violate multiple ICE National Detention Standards.
Investigators found the facility opened prematurely and was unprepared to meet the needs of its detainee population. The center did not have enough medical doctors for its size, and staff responsible for daily supervision appeared inexperienced.
Detainees reported rainwater and plumbing leaks in living areas, insufficient clothing and blankets, and threats of disciplinary action for covering vents to block cold air.
Bonta’s team also found the facility lacks an adequate healthcare system. In addition, the center began housing female detainees before securing basic women’s health supplies, violating multiple ICE standards.
In the letter to DHS, Bonta highlighted DOJ findings that appear to show violations of ICE detention standards, which the private operator CoreCivic is required to follow.
The letter outlines the issues and provides DHS with information needed to take corrective action.
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