A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning conditions at the California City Correctional Facility (CCDF), a recently repurposed immigration detention center. Detainees have reportedly described the facility as a “torture chamber” and “hell on Earth,” and allege conditions are so dire that some are choosing deportation over pursuing their immigration cases.
Remote Location and Rapid Expansion
In April 2025, CoreCivic, a for-profit prison company, began operating CCDF after signing a contract with ICE. The facility, previously decommissioned in 2023, is located approximately two hours north of Los Angeles, deep within the Mojave Desert and sixty miles from Death Valley National Park. The contract is estimated to be worth $130 million annually to CoreCivic.
The remoteness of CCDF presents challenges. Attorney Mario Valenzuela noted a three-hour round trip from his office in Bakersfield, often without cell service. The closest town, California City, has a poverty rate of approximately 25% and an unemployment rate of around 18%, with CoreCivic being one of its largest employers as of 2024.
Legal Challenges and Concerns Over Conditions
The opening of CCDF has faced legal scrutiny. Litigation alleges CoreCivic has not obtained the necessary business license or conditional-use permit from California City, and may be in violation of A.B. 103, a state law requiring a 180-day waiting period and public hearings before repurposing a facility for immigration detention.
A federally authorized monitor visit in September raised “serious concerns” about the facility’s disrepair, attributed to a period of vacancy followed by a “rush to open.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently warned DHS that CCDF “does not have enough medical doctors” and that existing staff “appear to be inexperienced.” Senator Alex Padilla, after touring the facility with Senator Adam Schiff, compared conditions to those observed at Guantanamo Bay, stating that detainees may wait “weeks or months” for medical care.
DHS maintains that claims of inhumane conditions are “FALSE” and that ICE facilities are regularly audited and inspected. CoreCivic states it has submitted required information for a business license and is in communication with city officials.
What Might Happen Next
The ongoing lawsuit regarding CCDF’s permits could result in the facility being forced to halt operations or modify its practices. If the court sides with CoreCivic, the facility is projected to reach its full capacity of 2,560 people in the first quarter of 2026. Continued scrutiny from state officials and advocacy groups could lead to further investigations and potential reforms. It is also possible that increased attention on conditions at CCDF could influence broader debates about immigration detention policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current detainee population at CCDF?
As of mid-January, approximately fourteen hundred detainees were being held at CCDF. The facility is projected to reach its full capacity of two thousand five hundred and sixty people in the first quarter of 2026.
What concerns have been raised about medical care at CCDF?
California’s attorney general warned that the facility does not have enough medical doctors for its detainee population, and that the staff it does have appear inexperienced. Senator Padilla compared conditions to those at Guantanamo Bay, stating that detainees may wait “weeks or months” for medical care.
Is CCDF operating legally?
Ongoing litigation alleges that CoreCivic has not secured a business license or the proper conditional-use permit for the facility with the municipal government of California City, and may be in violation of A.B. 103.
Given the legal challenges and reported conditions, what responsibility do both private companies and government agencies have in ensuring humane treatment and due process for those in immigration detention?