A court monitor found that the Adelanto ICE Processing Center remained largely out of compliance with a federal judge’s order, the Los Angeles Times reported. The July order requires round-the-clock access to clean drinking water, mold remediation, appropriate medical care and at least four hours of outdoor time each day for more than 1,500 detainees, the newspaper reported.
The court findings come as advocates press for Adelanto’s closure. On Thursday, Oct. 15, about 50 activists, community members and elected officials gathered near Riverside City Hall to urge immigration officials to halt enforcement activity and permanently close the facility, the Press-Enterprise reported. The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice organized the rally.
Detainees and their families have reported problems at Adelanto, including spoiled or insufficient food, mold, fly larvae in showers, dirty water and inadequate medical care. The Press-Enterprise also reported at least six suicide attempts at the facility. These reports are allegations, distinct from the court order and monitor’s assessment of compliance with required improvements.
What state inspections found
California DOJ’s separate 2025 inspections identified multiple violations of ICE detention standards concerning confinement conditions and basic medical care at all seven active California facilities, according to the California Department of Justice. The department also reported that the detainee population at the facilities it reviewed rose about 162%, from 2,303 at the time of its 2023 site visits to 6,028 at its 2025 visits.
Ownership and federal response
The Department of Homeland Security completed a $950 million purchase this month of three Adelanto detention facilities—Adelanto East, Adelanto West and the Desert View Annex—with a combined capacity of 2,644 beds, the Los Angeles Times reported. The purchase was funded through a $45 billion immigration detention package passed by Congress, according to the newspaper.
A DHS spokesperson rejected the negative portrayal of conditions, saying detainees receive meals, water and medical treatment and can communicate with family members and lawyers. The spokesperson also said ICE’s detention standards exceed those of most U.S. prisons and defended the agency’s officers, The Press-Enterprise reported.
Rally and local response
The coalition said the rally followed a week in which dozens of arrests were reported across California, including the Inland Empire, after federal officials announced a 45-day immigration enforcement surge. The Press-Enterprise reported that coalition policy director Eddie Torres called on local officials to direct public resources toward legal services, rent assistance and other help for immigrants. Torres also raised concerns that some detained people lack adequate legal representation, the newspaper reported.
The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice operates an emergency response network serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties, according to the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. Separately, the California Values Act limits state and local assistance to federal immigration enforcement, subject to specified exceptions involving certain convictions and notification or transfer, according to the ACLU of Southern California.
