Detainees at California’s largest immigration detention center are protesting against what they describe as inhumane conditions. The California City Immigration Processing Center, a 2,560-bed facility about 70 miles east of Bakersfield, has come under scrutiny following reports of solitary confinement, delayed medical care, and retaliation against protesting detainees.
According to The Fresno Bee, detainees like Sokhean Keo, who was transferred to the facility this month, report unsanitary conditions, including a lack of cleaning supplies and health hazards. Keo, originally from Cambodia, shared that officers threatened him with solitary confinement unless he admitted to gang affiliations, which he denies. He also reported that his medication was withheld for several days.
The protests, which included sit-ins and meal refusals, involved over 100 detainees. Some detainees have alleged being placed on 17-hour lockdowns and pepper-sprayed for participating in the protests. The California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, a legal aid nonprofit, reported that four detainees were placed in solitary confinement and one was denied basic necessities for participating in a hunger strike.
CoreCivic, the private operator of the facility, has denied these allegations. In a statement to Yahoo News, spokesperson Brian Todd stated that detainees receive necessary supplies and medical care, and that no detainee has faced prolonged lockdowns or pepper spray for disobedience. Todd also mentioned that recent heavy rains and flash flooding affected the facility, but no detainees had to be relocated.
The protests at California City reflect a broader wave of dissent across immigration facilities in California, with detainees highlighting issues of inadequate food, facilities, and medical care. Immigrant rights advocates continue to raise concerns about the treatment of detainees and the conditions within these facilities.
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