Overview
- The senators said detainees described foul-smelling water, reports of mold in food, and untreated health issues, including a woman who said she had gone two months without diabetes care.
- The California City Detention Facility opened in August 2025 under an ICE contract, now holds more than 1,400 people, and has capacity for 2,560.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office inspected the site in December and warned of inadequate medical care, staffing gaps, and unsafe conditions in a formal letter to DHS.
- Seven detainees filed a federal class-action lawsuit in November alleging medical neglect, unsanitary conditions, and abusive treatment, and ICE agreed to provide care to two plaintiffs after an emergency motion.
- DHS and CoreCivic reject the allegations and assert compliance with detention standards, as court fights over congressional access continue following a Jan. 8 DHS memo reinstating a seven‑day visit notice after an earlier policy was blocked.