California ICE Detention Doubles in One Year, Largest Facility Surges from 3 to 1,800 Detainees

Advocates raise concerns over worsening conditions and human rights abuses in the state's immigration detention centers.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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California's immigration detention centers have seen a significant surge in the number of detainees over the past year, with the total number of people held in these facilities more than doubling from around 3,000 to over 6,400 on average per day. This increase is attributed to escalating federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The state's newest and largest detention facility, the California City Immigration Processing Center, has seen a particularly dramatic rise, growing from just 19 detainees in mid-September to over 1,030 last month. Advocates have raised serious concerns about the deteriorating conditions and human rights issues within these privately-operated detention centers.

Why it matters

The surge in ICE detentions in California highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the treatment of undocumented immigrants. Advocates argue that the rapid growth in detainees has led to worsening conditions, including diminished medical care, reduced food portions, and limited legal access. This raises questions about the federal government's priorities and the role of private prison companies in operating these facilities.

The details

California now has nearly 8,500 beds across seven ICE detention facilities, all operated by private companies. As of late January 2026, these facilities were holding an average of 6,412 detainees per day, more than double the average from a year earlier. Much of this growth can be attributed to the new California City Immigration Processing Center, which opened in the fall of 2025 and has quickly expanded from just 19 detainees to over 1,030. Other facilities, like the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and Otay Mesa Detention Center, have also seen their populations surge. Nationally, ICE detentions have surpassed 70,000, with about 74% of those having no criminal convictions.

  • In mid-September 2025, the California City Immigration Processing Center reported only 19 detainees.
  • By November 2025, the number of detainees at the California City facility had jumped to more than 700.
  • As of last month, the California City facility was holding roughly 1,030 detainees.

The players

Alex Mensing

Communications director for the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice.

Rob Bonta

California Attorney General who sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security citing "grave concerns" about the quality of medical care and living conditions at the California City detention facility.

Alex Padilla

U.S. Senator representing California who visited the California City facility and said he left "even more concerned than I was when I arrived".

Adam Schiff

U.S. Senator representing California who visited the California City facility along with Senator Padilla.

Anna Caballero

California State Senator who introduced a bill to require private companies to secure a public health license to operate immigration detention centers in the state.

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What they’re saying

“The more people who are in ICE detention means the more human rights abuses that we're seeing.”

— Alex Mensing, Communications director, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (The Fresno Bee)

“I'm leaving here even more concerned than I was when I arrived. If the administration is true to their word, the population here is only going to grow, so the need to address nutrition, medical attention, mental healthcare is only going to grow.”

— Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator (The Fresno Bee)

“These are not federal facilities, but private facilities that should be abiding by the clear standards that they agreed to in their contract. California as a state has both the right and the moral responsibility to ensure that health standards are maintained in all detention facilities.”

— Anna Caballero, California State Senator (The Fresno Bee)

What’s next

State lawmakers in California are continuing to push for increased oversight and accountability of the private companies operating immigration detention centers in the state. Senator Caballero's bill to require public health licensing for these facilities is one such effort to improve conditions and ensure compliance with federal standards.

The takeaway

The rapid growth in ICE detentions in California, particularly at the new and largest facility in California City, has raised serious concerns about the treatment of immigrants and the role of private prisons in the immigration enforcement system. Advocates argue that the surge in detainees has led to worsening conditions, human rights abuses, and a need for greater state-level oversight and regulation of these privately-operated detention centers.