A recent California Department of Justice investigation has uncovered systemic violations within the state's ICE detention network. The report highlights a massive 162 percent increase in the detained population,which has reportedly led to severe medical neglect and food shortages.

The 162 percent spike in California detention populations

The detained population in California facilities grew by approximately 162 percent between 2023 and 2025, according to the California Department of Justice report. This surge saw the number of people held in ICE detention rise from 2,303 in 2023 to 6,028 during state inspections in 2025.

This rapid expansion has placed unprecedented pressure on infrastructure and services across the state. Notably, the number of female detainees saw a roughly 268 percent increase, rising from 170 to 626 during the same period. As reported in the state's annual review, these rising numbers have contributed to significant breakdowns in intake processing and living conditions.

Hunger and $100 weekly commissary spending at GEO Group sites

Detainees at the Golden State Annex in McFarland, which is run by the GEO Group, reported persistent hunger and poor food quality. The report states that some individuals were spending between $50 and $100 per week on commissary items , such as tuna and instant noodles, simply to satisfy their hunger.

Similar nutritional concerns were raised at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, also operated by the GEO Group. detainees there described meals as "bad," citing small portions and instances where the food caused illness. The review says that these food-related issues coincided with a sharp influx of detainees and subsequent delays in medical screening.

Strip searches and medical neglect at CoreCivic-operated centers

CoreCivic-operated facilities, such as the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, have faced scrutiny over invasive practices and medical care. inspectors highlighted a policy of strip searching detainees after non-legal contact visits, a practice that the report claims had an "overwhelming negative impact" on the mental health and dignity of those held there.

The Otay Mesa facility has also been accused of a "pattern of medical neglect," with detainees allegedly waiting weeks for appointments. Additionally, the California City Detention Center, another CoreCivic site, was criticized for being opened prematurely and lacking the necessary staffing to accept detainees safely.

The rapid expansion from seven to 1,500 detainees at Adelanto

The Adelanto ICE Processing Center, the largest facility in California with a capacity of 1,940, experienced a dramatic shift in scale. According to the California Department of Justice, the number of detainees at this site surged from just seven in 2023 to more than 1,500 by 2025.

This rapid growth at Adelanto has been linked to deteriorating living conditions and multiple deaths during the review period. The nearby Desert View Annex, which shares staff and operations with the Adelanto facility, has experienced similar strains,including inconsistent intake processing and inadequate living conditions.

Who will answer for the deaths at Adelanto and Imperial Regional?

While the California Department of Justice has documented specific fatalities at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, the report does not specify if federal investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of these deaths. Furthermore, the report does not address how the federal government or the specific private contractors—GEO Group and CoreCivic—plan to rectify the systemic medical and nutritional failures identified. While an agency spokesperson dismissed the findings, the lack of a formal response to the specific allegations of medical neglect remains a significant gap in the public record.