Court monitor finds systemic medical-care failures at California ICE facility
A court-appointed physician found California City’s immigration detention centre failed all eight healthcare areas set by a federal judge, citing risks from staffing, screening, medication and emergency-care gaps.
A court-appointed monitor has found that California’s largest immigration detention facility failed to meet all eight healthcare requirements set by a federal judge, describing problems that could expose detainees to immediate and long-term harm.
The report was filed on Monday, July 27, 2026, following a months-long inquiry into the California City detention centre, north-east of Los Angeles. The review included 141 medical records, a three-day site visit in May and interviews with 40 patients and facility staff, according to The Guardian.
Dr Muthusamy Anandkumar, a physician appointed by the court, identified deficiencies in staffing, intake screening, primary care, specialist referrals, emergency response, continuity of care, medication delivery and the system detainees use to request treatment. He concluded that the pattern reflected structural weaknesses rather than isolated lapses.
The inquiry followed a class-action lawsuit filed in November alleging serious medical neglect. In February, US District Judge Maxine Chesney ordered the government to demonstrate that the facility was providing adequate care across the eight areas reviewed by the monitor.
Among the findings were delayed medication, inadequate documentation of physical examinations, disorganised specialist referrals and insufficient support for people with disabilities. The report also said people with serious psychiatric needs could deteriorate in detention before being hospitalised and then returned with limited lasting improvement.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about the report’s findings but said detainees receive comprehensive medical care, The Guardian reported.
CoreCivic, which operates the centre but is not a defendant in the lawsuit, said it was reviewing the report. A company spokesperson said detainees have access to screenings, chronic-care management and behavioural health services, while noting that outside providers control the availability of specialist appointments.
The monitor issued recommendations intended to close the gaps and improve the facility’s tracking of medical care. The findings form part of ongoing litigation and do not by themselves resolve the underlying lawsuit.
