California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released the fourth report from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) on immigration detention facilities, which are used to detain noncitizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The report aims to increase transparency regarding conditions at these facilities. DOJ staff and experts reviewed each of the six privately operated detention centers in California.
“California has a responsibility to understand the conditions in which all our residents live, including people who are detained at immigration detention facilities. My office’s review of facilities in California shows that issues previously identified have persisted, while new findings make clear that these facilities need significant improvements to fall in compliance with ICE’s own detention standards,” said Attorney General Bonta. He further commented on the Trump Administration's past efforts to reduce oversight at these facilities and the potential worsening of issues due to increased detainment.
In 2017, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 103 to mandate the DOJ's review and reporting on conditions at immigration detention facilities until 2027. The review process involved touring the facilities, analyzing logs, policies, and interviewing staff and 154 detained individuals.
The 2025 report reviews conditions of confinement, security classification, discipline, compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), access to healthcare, and due process, with particular attention on mental health. Following concerns highlighted in previous years, the report notes ongoing issues such as inadequate mental health services and deterioration in detainees' mental health due to prolonged detainment.
Increasing immigration enforcement and detention under the Trump Administration is also noted, with current statistics indicating that as of April 2025, 3,104 individuals are held in ICE custody in California. The expanding population is anticipated to pose challenges for meeting detainee needs, and capacity is expected to grow with new detention spaces planned in Kern County.
Key observations from the report include:
- Invasive pat down searches at Mesa Verde, leading to complaints and allegations of sexual assault.
- Deficiencies in medical record-keeping at all six facilities, impacting the quality of treatment plans.
- Inadequate suicide prevention and intervention despite high suicide risk.
- Excessive use of force and discipline, particularly against individuals with mental health issues, and over-discipline at Golden State.
- Neglect in conducting mandatory mental health reviews for those placed in solitary confinement.
- Delays and lapses in medical care across facilities, affecting care quality and disease management.
- Failures in providing adequate support to detainees, impacting the fairness of immigration proceedings.
DOJ's Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement will host a Community Briefing on May 22 to discuss the report's findings. The report is available in English and Spanish for further review.