A federal judge has ordered sweeping changes at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, siding with detainees who argued that conditions inside the facility amounted to unconstitutional treatment.
U.S. District Judge Sunshine Suzanne Sykes issued a preliminary injunction Thursday, finding that detainees who filed the lawsuit are likely to succeed in proving that conditions at Adelanto violate Fifth Amendment protections against inhumane treatment while in custody. Although the broader case will continue moving through the courts, Sykes said she could not wait to act, warning that detainees risked serious and irreversible harm without immediate intervention.
The lawsuit followed the deaths of two men held at the facility within weeks of one another last fall — 39-year-old Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a former DACA recipient, and 56-year-old Gabriel Garcia-Aviles. Both deaths remain under federal investigation, adding to growing concern nationwide over conditions inside immigration detention centers under the Trump administration.
Attorneys representing detainees argued in their complaint that Adelanto had failed to meet basic ICE detention standards, pointing to a lack of clean drinking water, insufficient food, poor sanitation, limited access to medical care and medication, and failures to properly screen new arrivals for health issues. The lawsuit also cited violations involving outdoor recreation time, family visitation, mandatory headcounts meant to confirm detainees’ safety, and accommodations for people with disabilities.
In response, Judge Sykes’ order requires the facility to provide detainees with round-the-clock access to clean drinking water, meals containing adequate calories, and free hygiene products including soap. The ruling also mandates daily cleaning of the facility and prompt removal of any mold, along with providing detainees with blankets and clothing suited to the temperature. Detainees must now be given at least four hours of outdoor recreation time each day.
The order additionally addresses family visitation, barring Adelanto from imposing restrictive time limits or preventing physical contact such as hugging or holding hands during visits. Visits can no longer be cut short simply because a visiting family member needs to step away to use the restroom.
Most people held in California’s immigration detention facilities have not been charged with crimes — their cases stem from civil immigration violations rather than criminal conduct.
Under the new order, Adelanto must conduct at least two headcounts daily, one overnight and one during the day, to confirm that detainees are accounted for and not in medical distress. The ruling also limits the use of isolation, permitting it only when there is a genuine safety threat to staff or at a detainee’s own request.
ICE and other named defendants are required to begin implementing the court-ordered changes immediately.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the ruling. In court last week, DHS attorney Pushkal Mishra argued the federal government should not be held responsible for the actions of GEO Group, the private company that operates Adelanto along with 18 other detention facilities nationwide. In a motion seeking dismissal of the case, DHS contended it should not be forced to essentially take over daily oversight of a contractor’s operations. GEO Group did not respond to a request for comment.
Disability access has emerged as a recurring complaint at ICE facilities since the start of the current administration. According to the lawsuit, one detainee said he was shackled at the wrists and ankles for court appearances despite relying on a cane to walk. Others said detainees with mobility limitations were frequently assigned to top bunks. The court’s order now requires the government to provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
Federal officials have 14 days to submit a plan addressing medical care and disability accommodations at the facility. The order requires that every detainee receive a health screening upon arrival, continued access to needed treatment and medication, and proper isolation procedures to prevent the spread of contagious illness. It also guarantees detainees access to primary, secondary and specialized medical care, along with clear information about their rights as patients.
To ensure compliance, Sykes ordered the appointment of two independent monitors who will oversee conditions for the duration of the litigation. Detainees will be able to submit complaints in English or Spanish through a secure lockbox accessible only to those monitors.
The order comes months after a report from the California Attorney General’s Office found that six people have died in immigration detention facilities within the state since the start of the administration’s mass deportation efforts. Nationally, 22 deaths have been recorded in ICE custody so far this year.
This week, the Mexican government formally urged U.S. state attorneys general to open criminal investigations into cases involving Mexican nationals who have died while in ICE custody.
Original source: CalMatters
