A chilling legal battle has begun, revealing a disturbing portrait of life inside California’s largest migrant detention facility. A new federal lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of unsanitary conditions and systemic neglect, alleging a profound disregard for human dignity.
The lawsuit details horrifying realities for those detained: sewage bubbling up from shower drains, and the desperate use of dirty bandages on open, festering wounds. Seven men are at the center of the case, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups, all held within the walls of a facility recently resurrected from mothball status in the desolate landscape of California City.
Beyond the squalor, the complaint alleges a catastrophic failure to provide adequate medical care. Detainees suffering from cancer, heart conditions, and diabetes are reportedly being denied essential treatment, while those with disabilities face outright neglect and are subjected to prolonged, isolating confinement.
The conditions extend beyond medical concerns. Reports detail insufficient food and water, frigid temperatures, and restrictions on vital family visits. Access to legal counsel is reportedly delayed, and even basic religious practices are suppressed, with prayer mats, head coverings, and sacred texts confiscated.
“ICE is playing with people’s lives, and they treat people like they’re trash, like they’re nothing,” stated Sokhean Keo, one of the plaintiffs. His words echo the desperation felt by many, with detainees reportedly lacking even basic hygiene products like soap, and suffering from debilitating weight loss due to inadequate nourishment.
The facility itself is described as crumbling and severely understaffed. Upon its reopening, detainees were allegedly ordered to clean cells and housing units filled with garbage and human waste – without being provided with cleaning supplies. The lawsuit argues these conditions are demonstrably worse than those found in prisons housing convicted criminals.
The relentless monotony of prolonged cell confinement, coupled with a lack of meaningful activity, is taking a devastating toll on mental health. The complaint details a “widespread sense of hopelessness” and a disturbing rise in self-harm and suicidal thoughts among the detained men.
Gustavo Guevara, another plaintiff, pleaded for public awareness, stating, “No human being, immigrant or not, should be subjected to these horrendous conditions… It’s not right that because we’re immigrants they feel they can treat us this way.” His plea underscores the core issue of dehumanization at the heart of the case.
The plight of Fernando Gomez Ruiz is particularly harrowing. Detained while simply eating lunch at a food truck, this diabetic man has been denied regular insulin doses, resulting in a severe foot ulcer. He is forced to cover the wound with soiled bandages, as clean medical supplies are unavailable.
The facility, shuttered in 2023, was swiftly reopened by ICE with a capacity of over 2,500 beds. Currently holding approximately 800 people, it is projected to reach full capacity, raising fears of escalating abuse and neglect.
Advocates argue that the treatment within the California City facility exemplifies ICE’s disregard for the fundamental rights and dignity of those in its custody. Access to necessities – food, medical care, and legal representation – are not privileges, but constitutionally protected rights.
Despite the damning allegations, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson vehemently denied the claims, asserting that ICE maintains “higher detention standards” than most prisons. They claim detainees receive adequate meals, water, hygiene products, and access to communication with family and legal counsel.
