Hastily opened detention center faces lawsuits over conditions, medical neglect, solitary confinement
Jul 30, 2026·Location: California City, CA

California City Detention Center, opened in August 2025 after conversion from a state prison, opened prematurely and inadequately staffed with insufficient detention and healthcare personnel. Detainees reported extremely cold temperatures, leaks during rainy seasons, guards frequently shouting, and extended cell confinement during population counts—practices retained from its use as a prison for high-risk inmates. The facility also restricted contact visits, negatively impacting detainees' ability to maintain family relationships. The detention center is facing two lawsuits, including one filed in November 2025 on behalf of five detainees alleging unsanitary conditions, deteriorating infrastructure, solitary confinement, excessive disciplinary measures, inadequate medical care, and visit restrictions. DHS acquired the facility for $732 million.
Sources
- ‘Hell on earth’: immigrants held in new California detention facility beg for help
The Guardian·Sep 27, 2025·archived copy
- Why California's newest detention facility faces federal lawsuit over medical neglect and 'punitive' unsanitary conditions
Los Angeles Times·Nov 13, 2025
- Strip searches at one facility, ‘extreme cold’ at another: Inside Trump’s latest deportation push
english.elpais.com·Jul 30, 2026·archived copy
- newsfromthestates.com
- California’s largest ICE detention facility has 500 detainees. ‘It’s total chaos’
fresnobee.com·Sep 15, 2025
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