Attorney General Rob Bonta releases his office’s 5th report on conditions at private immigration detention facilities in California | Photo via the Attorney General’s Office
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released a sweeping new report detailing what he described as “inhumane, unsafe, and degrading” conditions inside federal immigration detention centers operating in the state. The findings, submitted to the California Legislature and shared with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), mark one of the most forceful critiques yet from a state official on the treatment of immigrants held in civil detention.
The report stems from Bonta’s authority under AB 103, a California law requiring the Attorney General to conduct regular, independent reviews of immigration detention facilities. The latest inspection cycle covered centers in Adelanto, Otay Mesa, Mesa Verde, and Yuba County, among others.
“Systemic Failures” and “Unacceptable Risks”
Bonta said the inspections revealed “systemic failures that place detained individuals at unacceptable risk,” citing prolonged solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and inconsistent access to legal counsel. “These are civil detainees — not people serving criminal sentences,” Bonta said. “Yet many are held in conditions that would not meet minimum standards in California’s correctional system.”
The report highlighted repeated violations of federal detention standards, including delayed emergency medical responses, mold‑infested dormitories, and reports of retaliation against detainees who filed grievances. In Adelanto, inspectors documented broken toilets, malfunctioning ventilation, and chronic understaffing — issues that have been flagged in previous federal audits.
The Attorney General emphasized that the findings were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern. “We continue to see the same problems year after year,” he said, urging DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take “immediate corrective action.”
Report Submitted to State Lawmakers and Federal Officials
The report was formally transmitted to the California State Legislature, as required by law, and shared with DHS, which oversees ICE detention operations. Bonta said his office has been in communication with federal officials regarding the findings and recommendations.
DHS has previously acknowledged deficiencies in some facilities but maintains that it is working to improve oversight. ICE has not yet issued a formal response to Bonta’s latest report, though the agency has historically defended its detention standards as “rigorous and regularly reviewed.”
Human Impact: “People Are Suffering in Silence”
Advocates say the report validates years of complaints from detainees and their families. Many immigrants held in these facilities are asylum seekers, long‑time residents with pending cases, or individuals awaiting court hearings.
Bonta noted that the conditions have real human consequences. “People are suffering in silence inside these facilities,” he said. “Our responsibility is to shine a light on what is happening and demand accountability.”
The report includes testimonies from detainees who described waiting weeks for medical appointments, being denied prescribed medications, and living in overcrowded dorms where COVID‑19 protocols were inconsistently enforced.
Calls for Reform and Possible Facility Closures
The Attorney General reiterated his call for California to reassess its relationship with privately operated detention centers. His office has previously supported efforts to phase out private immigration detention in the state, though federal litigation has complicated implementation.
“We cannot allow substandard conditions to persist simply because these facilities operate under federal contracts,” Bonta said. “California has a duty to protect the health and dignity of every person within its borders.”
As the federal government continues to rely on detention as part of its immigration enforcement strategy, Bonta said he will continue to push for reforms, increased transparency, and — where necessary — the closure of facilities that fail to meet basic standards.