Lawsuit Alleges 'Hell on Earth' Conditions at California ICE Detention Center

Detainees describe facility as 'torture chamber' as legal challenges mount over remote location and rapid expansion

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:47am

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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.

Why it matters

The rapid expansion of detention capacity, coupled with concerns about staffing and infrastructure, highlights the inherent challenges of managing large-scale immigration detention, particularly in remote locations. The legal questions surrounding the facility's opening add another layer of complexity, raising broader questions about the responsibility of both private companies and government agencies in ensuring humane treatment and due process for those in immigration detention.

The details

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, with attorney Mario Valenzuela noting a three-hour round trip from his office in Bakersfield, often without cell service. The opening of CCDF has faced legal scrutiny, with litigation alleging 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.

  • In April 2025, CoreCivic began operating CCDF after signing a contract with ICE.
  • On August 27th, CoreCivic began receiving detainees at CCDF.
  • By mid-January, the detainee population had grown to fourteen hundred.

The players

CoreCivic

A for-profit prison company that began operating the California City Correctional Facility (CCDF) in April 2025 after signing a contract with ICE.

Mario Valenzuela

An attorney who noted the remote location of CCDF, with a three-hour round trip from his office in Bakersfield, often without cell service.

Rob Bonta

The California Attorney General who warned the Department of Homeland Security that CCDF 'does not have enough medical doctors' and that existing staff 'appear to be inexperienced.'

Alex Padilla

A U.S. Senator who, 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.

Adam Schiff

A U.S. Senator who toured the CCDF facility with Senator Alex Padilla.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s 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.

The takeaway

This case highlights the inherent challenges of managing large-scale immigration detention, particularly in remote locations, and raises broader questions about the responsibility of both private companies and government agencies in ensuring humane treatment and due process for those in immigration detention.