Detainees report new California ICE detention center 'hell on earth'
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Immigrants at California’s largest ICE detention center report filthy cells, poor healthcare, and mistreatment, raising concerns over US immigration policy under the Trump administration.
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An immigrant considered a threat to public safety and national security waits to be processed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the ICE Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, after an early morning raid, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Immigrants detained in California’s newest ICE detention center describe the facility as “hell on earth,” citing filthy cells, lack of medical care, and humiliating treatment by staff.
The California City detention facility, which opened in August 2025, has quickly become the state’s largest, increasing detention capacity by 36%.
In interviews with The Guardian, spanning across the last two weeks, detainees told of backed-up toilets, limited access to hygiene supplies, inadequate food portions, and delayed medications. Some said officers threatened solitary confinement and physical force when they spoke up.
“This place is built to break us,” Sokhean Keo, who is fighting deportation to Cambodia, told The Guardian. “There is nothing but harassment and torture here. It’s inhumane, unsanitary, and a health hazard every single day … Please, please help us, please.”
The facility is operated by CoreCivic, a private prison corporation contracted by ICE. In April 2025, the company signed a $13.5 million agreement with the government to convert a former 2,560-bed prison in the Mojave Desert into a detention center.
Read more: Trump sends troops to Portland, ICE facilities
A CoreCivic spokesperson denied allegations of abuse when questioned by The Guardian, stating that detainees receive clean clothing, food, and medical care, and that all facilities operate under federal oversight. However, California City’s mayor said the company is running the site without proper permits, while rights groups accused CoreCivic of bypassing state law requiring public input before opening.
ICE expansion and Trump administration policies
The site reflects the broader expansion of ICE detention centers across the United States. The Trump administration has committed $45 billion to expanding immigration detention, with a goal of holding more than 100,000 people.
More than 500 detainees were housed at California City by early September, many transferred abruptly from other facilities. Some detainees said officers admitted they were unprepared for the influx.
Reports of inadequate healthcare have fueled growing fears among detainees. Several described collapsing without medication, while one asylum seeker with mobility issues said his requests for a wheelchair were ignored. CoreCivic confirmed a recent suicide attempt but maintained that its healthcare team meets federal standards.
In response to conditions, more than 100 detainees have staged sit-ins and hunger strikes. Advocacy groups said officers retaliated with lockdowns, restricted phone access, and transfers to solitary confinement. CoreCivic rejected the term “solitary confinement,” calling the practice “restrictive housing.”
Calls for oversight of US immigration detention
Immigrants’ rights groups warn that the new California facility highlights systemic problems in US immigration detention. They argue that the rushed opening, lack of transparency, and alleged mistreatment underscore the need for stronger oversight of ICE detention centers nationwide.
The combination of these issues present in the detention centers has caused some detainees to accept their fate of deportation.
“I just want a fair chance to stay here and fight my case,” Keo said. “My family wants me to stay, but I’m tired … I think of quitting every single day I’m here. In my country, it’s bad right now, very bad. But there is nothing worse than this. This place is hell on earth and we need to get out.”
