Conditions at California immigrant detention centers have deteriorated sharply as a surge in arrests under the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign has led to severe overcrowding and a breakdown in basic medical care, according to a comprehensive new state investigation.
The 175-page report, released Friday by the California Department of Justice, describes a system struggling to keep pace with a population that grew by 162% between 2023 and 2025. During that period, the number of detainees in the state climbed from 2,300 to more than 6,000, leaving facilities plagued by “crisis-level” staffing shortages and inadequate living conditions.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta characterized the findings as a failure of federal oversight and private management. “This is the federal government paying for-profit, private companies to run these detention centers and they are running these detention centers with inhumane, cruel, and unacceptable conditions,” Bonta said during a news conference on Friday.
The investigation was conducted through tours of seven facilities existing in 2025—with an eighth, the Central Valley Annex in McFarland, beginning operations in April—as well as interviews with 194 detainees and an analysis of internal records. The oversight was made possible by a unique California state law requiring public reports on detention conditions, a mechanism Bonta noted is not present in any other state.
Medical failures and rising mortality
The report highlights a stark disconnect between federal standards and the reality on the ground. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mandates that medical and mental health screenings occur within 12 hours of arrival, detainees reported waiting days or even weeks for these assessments. In some instances, arrivals slept on floors without access to water while awaiting housing assignments.
This systemic failure has had lethal consequences. Since the start of 2025, six people have died in ICE custody within California: four at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and two at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility. In the cases at Adelanto, family members alleged that the medical response was insufficient.
Inspectors identified “crisis-level healthcare understaffing” specifically at the California City and Adelanto facilities. At the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, the report found that delays in specialty care and referrals were widespread, often caused by bottlenecks in approvals from the ICE Health Service Corps or the cancellation of appointments when detainees were transferred between facilities.
In response, DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis defended the system, stating, “No lawbreakers in the history of human civilization have been treated better than illegal aliens in the United States.” Bis asserted that the healthcare provided is often the best many detainees have ever received and that meals are certified by dietitians.
Living conditions and allegations of abuse
Beyond medical care, the report documents a decline in basic human necessities. At the Adelanto facility, detainees reported that water coolers remained empty for hours, and investigators observed murky drinking water flowing from taps in the women’s housing unit.
Food insecurity was also a recurring theme. Detainees at Mesa Verde and the Golden State Annex reported spending at least $50 per week on commissary items to avoid hunger, citing undercooked meals and a lack of accommodations for allergies or dietary restrictions.
The report also describes extreme temperature issues and invasive security protocols:
- Environmental Distress: At the California City facility, detainees reported such extreme cold that they cut the ends off socks to create improvised sleeves and used sheets of paper to cover air vents.
- Invasive Searches: The Otay Mesa Detention Center was identified as the only facility in the state requiring strip searches after visits from anyone other than an attorney. Detained women reported being forced to strip in front of male officers, including while menstruating.
- Use of Force: The report noted that CoreCivic denied investigators access to use-of-force records at the California City facility, despite legal claims alleging that staff used pepper spray and riot shields, and held detainees down with knees on their backs.
The role of private contractors
The majority of these facilities are operated by private corporations under federal contract. The GEO Group, which oversees four facilities including Adelanto, maintains that its services are monitored by DHS to ensure compliance with federal standards. Spokesperson Christopher Ferreira stated that the company provides 24-hour medical access, translation services, and religious amenities.
CoreCivic, which operates the Otay Mesa and California City facilities, stated through spokesperson Ryan Gustin that it had not yet reviewed the report’s findings but maintains that the health and safety of detainees is a top priority and that its facilities are subject to multiple layers of government auditing.
The following table summarizes the scale of the population shift identified in the Cal DOJ report:
| Metric | 2023 Status | 2025 Status |
|---|---|---|
| Detainee Population | 2,300 | 6,000+ |
| Population Increase | — | 162% |
| Total State Capacity | ~8,200 | ~8,200 |
| Number of Facilities | 7 | 8 |
Legislative battle over oversight
The report arrives as California lawmakers move to solidify the state’s role as a watchdog. The current law enabling these inspections is set to expire next year. To prevent a lapse in transparency, State Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) has introduced a bill to make these inspections permanent.
State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) has proposed legislation to cap the markup of products sold at detention center commissaries, addressing the reports of detainees spending significant sums of money on basic food staples.
While the report noted some improvements at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility regarding staffing, it still raised alarms over the management of severe mental health issues, including two individuals who spent over 200 days in restrictive housing. Emily Lawhead, a spokesperson for Management & Training Corp., which runs the Imperial facility, said the company would examine the gaps identified in the report.
The next critical checkpoint for these facilities will be the legislative session regarding the permanent extension of the oversight law, which will determine if the state retains the legal authority to enter these federal sites after next year.
This is a developing story. We invite readers to share their perspectives or provide additional information in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes findings from a government report and contains legal and medical allegations. It is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice.
