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Intellectually disabled detainee denied cardiac care at California immigration jail; judge orders ICE to provide adequate healthcare

Feb 11, 2026 · California City, CA, Eritrea

Intellectually disabled detainee denied cardiac care at California immigration jail; judge orders ICE to provide adequate healthcare

Yebio Kifle, a 48-year-old intellectually disabled man with congestive heart failure, was detained at California City Detention Facility in Kern County in November 2025 after arrest in Sacramento. His sister reported severe medical neglect, including jaundiced eyes, swollen legs, inability to urinate, and vomiting blood. Medical experts stated he required immediate hospitalization and risked death without urgent care. In February 2026, U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney issued a ruling in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by detainees, ordering ICE to provide constitutionally adequate healthcare, legal representation access, temperature-appropriate clothing, and daily outdoor recreation at the facility. The judge appointed an external monitor to oversee compliance through medical record reviews and on-site inspections.

Timeline

Feb 11, 2026Federal judge orders ICE to provide adequate healthcare, legal representation access, appropriate clothing, and daily outdoor recreation; appoints external monitor for compliance
Nov 2025Yebio Kifle arrested in Sacramento and detained at California City Detention Facility; medical neglect begins
Nov 2025Class-action lawsuit filed by detainees alleging medical neglect and unsanitary living conditions

Sources

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