Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center
Bakersfield, California · 18 well-documented stories
What stands out here
Conditions that appear in a larger share of this facility's stories than of facility stories in general. Stories run from May 2025 to Sep 2026.
- Medical requests ignored22% vs 15%
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Medication withheld17% vs 6%
Prescribed medication (insulin, HIV drugs, psychiatric medication, seizure drugs, chemotherapy) was taken, withheld, or not provided.
- Injury needing medical treatment17% vs 7%
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
share of stories hereacross all facilities
Everything the stories describe here
- Medical requests ignored · 4 stories
Requests for care, a doctor, or an emergency response were refused, delayed, or dismissed.
- Medication withheld · 3 stories
Prescribed medication (insulin, HIV drugs, psychiatric medication, seizure drugs, chemotherapy) was taken, withheld, or not provided.
- Injury needing medical treatment · 3 stories
The person or a bystander was hurt badly enough to need medical care.
- Solitary confinement · 2 stories
Placed in isolation or segregation.
- Pregnant or postpartum in custody · 2 stories
The detained person was pregnant, miscarried, gave birth, or was postpartum or breastfeeding while held.
- Food or water withheld · 2 stories
The person went without food or water for an extended period, or was given spoiled or inadequate food.
- Shackled or chained · 1 story
Shackled, chained, zip-tied for long periods, restrained during transport or medical care, or held in a restraint chair.
- No bed, sleep, or basic hygiene · 1 story
Slept on the floor, no bed or blanket, lights on all night, no shower, no toilet access, or similar.
- Family not told · 1 story
Relatives were not informed of the arrest, a transfer, a hospitalization, or a death, or learned of it from the press or other detainees.
- Hunger strike · 1 story
The person or a group refused food in protest.
- Abuse or threats by staff · 1 story
Beatings, threats, humiliation, slurs, or theft by guards or staff.
In their words
“They just said we are detaining your grandma and didn't give me any other information, didn't let me see her. And after that, we didn't hear from her for hours and when we did hear from her, she was crying and begging us for help,”
“This has been one of the hardest experiences my family has ever faced.”
Stories
Sandy S.: Irish husband of U.S. citizen detained by ICE, deported before bond hearingMichael Sims, 42, a Philadelphia lighting technician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a San Jose airport and deported to the UK days before his bond hearing.San Jose, CA · Sep 30, 2026 · Philadelphia Inquirer
Angie: Pregnant asylum-seeker miscarries after denied care at Mesa Verde ICE facilityAngie, a 26-year-old asylum-seeker from San Jose, miscarried after being denied immediate care at Mesa Verde ICE facility, suffering severe bleeding and requiring a blood transfusion.San Jose Ca · Sep 15, 2026 · San Francisco Chronicle, NBC News, Latin Times +4- Omer S.: Turkish man re-detained by ICE at Mesa Verde without bond hearingA Turkish man held at Mesa Verde Detention Center after being re-detained won a court order for a bond hearing within ten days, or he must be released.Bakersfield, CA · Jul 20, 2026 · CourtListener
- Mario R.S.: Mexican man in U.S. 28 years held by ICE after taillight stopA Mexican man who has lived in the U.S. for 28 years was detained after a traffic stop for a broken taillight in Utah. A court ordered him released in June, finding his detention violated his rights.Utah · May 15, 2026 · CourtListener
- Silvino H.P.: Long-term U.S. resident held by ICE at Mesa Verde after traffic stopA longtime undocumented resident was detained after fleeing a traffic stop and held at Mesa Verde Detention Facility. A court ordered he receive a bond hearing within 14 days or be released.Bakersfield, CA · May 8, 2026 · CourtListener
- Aurelio I.C.: Guatemalan man held by ICE at Mesa Verde without a bond hearingA Guatemalan man held at Mesa Verde Detention Center must get a bond hearing before a neutral arbiter within seven days, a California court ordered.Bakersfield, CA · Apr 9, 2026 · CourtListener
- Ryan P.B.: Guatemalan man detained by ICE when he reported for appointmentA Guatemalan man who had been released on his own recognizance was re-detained at a check-in appointment, then won release after a judge ruled the detention violated his rights and barred future re-detention without a hearing.Bakersfield, CA · Mar 31, 2026 · CourtListener
- Rosalio X.A.: Guatemalan man in U.S. since 2001 detained by ICE commuting to workA Guatemalan man who has lived in the U.S. since 2001 was detained while driving to work and held at Mesa Verde. A judge found his detention violated due process and ordered a bond hearing or his release.Bakersfield, CA · Mar 9, 2026 · CourtListener
Ruben: Nicaraguan man deported after arrest at asylum appointment in San Francisco courtRuben, 28, had lived in San Francisco's Mission District with his brother Francisco for three years before being arrested at his own asylum hearing in February. He was moved through several detention centers and deported to Nicaragua in March.San Francisco, CA · Mar 8, 2026 · Mission Local, EXA
Sam B.: Fresno restaurant manager held 9 months by ICE, away from 3-year-old sonA Fresno restaurant manager and father, in the U.S. since toddlerhood, was freed on bond after nine months detained over a decades-old conviction Gov. Newsom later pardoned. He reunited with his wife and young son.“This has been one of the hardest experiences my family has ever faced.” — Sam BehpoorCalifornia City, CA · Mar 6, 2026 · Your Central Valley, ABC 30, The Fresno Bee +3- Fan Z.: Chinese asylum seeker detained by ICE in Bakersfield, CaliforniaA Chinese asylum seeker was detained at a Bakersfield facility after a DUI arrest, having previously been released on recognizance. A court ordered the government to give him a bond hearing within 14 days.Bakersfield, CA · Feb 27, 2026 · CourtListener
Angie R.: Pregnant asylum seeker miscarries in ICE detention, denied prenatal careAngie Rodriguez, 24, discovered she was pregnant while held at a California ICE facility and received no prenatal care for weeks. She miscarried after experiencing bleeding and has since filed a lawsuit.Bakersfield, CA · Feb 20, 2026 · The Preamble, CourtListener, Twin Cities +4- Yuri R.C.: Man denied heart medication in ICE detention rushed to ER twiceYuri Alexander Roque Campos, 30, with a life-threatening heart condition, was denied medication after a transfer and suffered a "pre-heart attack," landing in the ER twice within two days. He went over a month without seeing a doctor.California City, CA · Nov 12, 2025 · ACLU, Modesto Bee, The New Yorker +3
- Leticia N.: Mother in U.S. 35 years held by ICE at green card interviewLeticia Nevares, a mother of three and elderly caretaker who has lived in the U.S. over 35 years, was detained at her green card interview in Fresno. Her son says she volunteers caring for sick and dying neighbors.Fresno, CA · Oct 28, 2025 · FresnoLand, Newsweek, Trump Whack
Harjit K.: 73-year-old Sikh grandmother denied medication, deported after ICE detentionHarjit Kaur, 73, a Sikh grandmother who lived in Hercules for over 30 years with no criminal record, was detained at a routine ICE check-in and deported to India without saying goodbye.“They just said we are detaining your grandma and didn't give me any other information, didn't let me see her. And after that, we didn't hear from her for hours and when we did hear from her, she was crying and begging us for help,” — Sukhmeet SandhuBerkeley, California · Sep 22, 2025 · NBC Bay Area, ABC7, Richmond Side +7
Karam: Detainee with stomach ulcer denied medication, vomiting blood in ICE custodyKaram, held at California City ICE Detention Facility with a chronic stomach ulcer, went without his medication, began vomiting blood, and has gone on four hunger strikes since September.California City, CA · Sep 18, 2025 · The New Yorker, The Desert Sun, ACLU of Indiana +2
José Daniel L.P.: Honduran sole caregiver of 6 young siblings detained by ICE in ReddingJosé Daniel López Peña, 26, the sole caregiver for his six young siblings, was detained near Redding while dropping off his girlfriend, prompting hundreds to protest.Redding, CA · Sep 12, 2025 · Action News Now, KRCR TV
Legal resident since 1967 held nearly 9 months by ICEA 66-year-old legal resident since 1967 and longtime legal assistant was detained at San Francisco airport returning from visiting his son, an Air Force member, in Japan. He was freed after nearly nine months and returned home to San Diego.San Francisco, CA · May 7, 2025 · Day of Law, Best Cricket Names, AS Lawsuit +2
Where people stood at the latest report
Each square is one percent of these stories. Read it with care: people who are still detained or already deported have far less access to reporters and lawyers than people who were released, so this mix reflects who gets covered more than how cases end.
- Deported 17%
- Still detained 44%
- Released 28%
- Unknown 11%