California ICE Facility Neglected Detainees' Medical Needs, Monitor Finds

California's largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, located in California City, has failed to provide adequate medical care to detainees, according to a court-appointed monitor. The monitor's report found the facility out of compliance with all eight areas of its healthcare system that a federal judge had ordered it to demonstrate were functioning properly.

The report detailed significant deficiencies, including major flaws in emergency care, failures to provide medications in a timely manner, inadequate health screenings, and a lack of accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Dr. Muthusamy Anandkumar, the monitor, stated that the facility "lacks a reliable system to consistently provide adequate health care, placing individuals at serious risk of both immediate and long-term harm."

The inquiry was ordered earlier this year by a federal judge in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by detained plaintiffs alleging "life-threatening" healthcare problems, including denial of cancer treatment and diabetes medication.

This investigation is significant as it is the first court-ordered examination of the full scope of medical care at any ICE facility in the U.S. The monitor's assessment was based on a review of 141 medical records, a three-day site visit, and interviews with 40 patients and staff.

CoreCivic, the private corporation operating the facility, is reviewing the report. A spokesperson stated that the company prioritizes the health and safety of those in its care. The Department of Homeland Security said no ICE detainees are denied access to medical care and that ICE facilities are regularly audited.