California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Friday, May 15, that conditions in immigration detention facilities across the state are deteriorating, with a surge in detainees from 2,303 in 2023 to 6,028 in 2025. The fifth report from the California Department of Justice details widespread failures, including poor access to clean drinking water and inadequate medical treatment, highlighting the escalating burden on the state's infrastructure as federal policies drive increased detentions.
Bonta stated that the worsening conditions are a direct consequence of President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign and a policy shift away from releasing individuals on bonds. He criticized the federal government for "paying for-profit, private companies to run these detention centers," asserting that these corporations operate facilities with "inhumane, cruel and unacceptable conditions."
The report, unveiled on May 15, documented six deaths within these facilities between September 2025 and March 2026. Four of these deaths occurred at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, with two more at the Imperial Regional Detention Center.
The Demographic Burden
The dramatic increase in the detainee population, more than doubling from 2,303 during the state’s 2023 inspections to 6,028 by site visits last year, underscores the demographic pressures facing California. The Adelanto ICE Processing Center experienced the most significant population surge among the seven facilities examined.
The California Department of Justice’s report covers seven immigration facilities operating in California in 2025: Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, Desert View Annex in San Bernardino County, Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Imperial County, Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego County, Golden State Annex in Kern County, Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Kern County, and California City Detention Facility in Kern County.
Detainees across multiple facilities reported severe issues, including overcrowding, undercooked food, inadequate clothing, and poor access to clean drinking water. Furthermore, the report highlighted consistent failures in providing access to requested medical appointments and necessary, timely medical treatment, even for emergency care. California City Detention Center was specifically cited for inadequate staffing and for often diverging from national detention standards, with detainees reporting it was being run like a prison.
Corporate Interests and Systemic Failure
The federal government's reliance on private corporations to manage this influx was a central point of Bonta’s criticism. GEO Group, which operates Adelanto, Desert View, Golden State, and Mesa Verde facilities, issued a statement asserting that its support services are monitored by ICE and other Department of Homeland Security organizations to ensure compliance with detention standards. A GEO Group spokesperson stated that "in the event issues are identified, we quickly resolve all of ICE’s concerns as required by ICE’s Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan." The spokesperson also claimed that individuals have access to a range of medical professionals and off-site specialists when needed.
CoreCivic, responsible for the California City and Otay Mesa facilities, also responded, with spokesperson Ryan Gustin stating that the safety, health, and well-being of individuals in their care is a top priority. Gustin affirmed CoreCivic’s commitment to adhering to all applicable federal detention standards, noting that their facilities are subject to multiple layers of oversight, including regular on-site inspections by auditors. He also stated that detainees have access to health care services, including around-the-clock emergency care, and that staffing adheres to federal detention standards.
Management & Training Corporation (MTC), which operates the Imperial Regional facility, acknowledged Bonta’s report, particularly concerns regarding medical care. MTC noted that the report also included numerous positive findings for its Imperial Regional facility in areas such as health care, programming, recreation, food service, and access to courts and attorneys. However, MTC also acknowledged concerns over specialist referrals and follow-up care for chronic conditions under the Performance-Based National Detention Standards, stating, "If our review identifies gaps, delays, or missed standards, we will address them."
Bonta’s frustration with the persistent issues was evident in his statement: "Five reports on substandard and inhumane conditions since 2019 are five too many." This marks the California DOJ’s fifth examination of conditions at immigration detention facilities in the state since 2019, indicating a systemic and unaddressed problem within the federal government's approach to managing the consequences of mass migration. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to the California DOJ’s findings.