UPDATE: California Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla conducted a crucial tour of the California City Detention Facility on Tuesday, amid escalating concerns over the treatment of detainees. This visit comes as reports of inadequate conditions and increased immigration raids have surged, pushing the number of individuals in ICE custody to over 70,000 nationwide.
During the visit, Sen. Schiff highlighted the emotional trauma experienced by detainees, stating, “When you walk inside these walls, you experience a different trauma.” He emphasized that many individuals they spoke with were apprehended while attending necessary immigration appointments. “They were doing what they were supposed to do, to become citizens or establish a lawful presence,” Schiff affirmed.
Sen. Padilla voiced alarm over the facility’s prison-like conditions, remarking, “What are the conditions like? They look a lot more like a prison than a dormitory style setting.” He noted that detainees are separated based on ICE’s assessment of risk, raising concerns about their treatment and wellbeing.
The senators’ visit follows a letter from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who outlined troubling conditions at the facility, including inadequate medical care, insufficient clothing, and unsanitary living environments. Bonta’s letter underscores a federal lawsuit filed in November by seven detainees, alleging violations of humane treatment standards.
“The need to address nutrition, medical attention, and mental health care is only going to grow,” Padilla warned, highlighting the urgent need for reform as ICE operations continue nationwide.
As of now, both the Justice Department and ICE have yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the senators’ findings or the allegations surrounding the California City facility.
This developing situation sheds light on the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the treatment of individuals in federal custody. As scrutiny mounts, all eyes are on federal agencies to address these critical concerns.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.
