California DOJ Report Finds Overcrowding and Deaths in ICE Detention Centers Amid Trump Deportations

The California Department of Justice released a 175‑page report in May that inspected seven immigration detention facilities operating in the state in 2025. Inspectors documented a 162% rise in the detainee population, from roughly 2,300 in 2023 to more than 6,000, driven by the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. The surge overwhelmed intake procedures, staffing and basic services.

Across the facilities, detainees reported severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, inadequate food and water, and delayed or denied medical care. Staffing levels had not kept pace, with some sites operating with a single physician for nearly 1,000 detainees. The report recorded six deaths in ICE custody between September 2025 and March 2026 – the highest number since the state began these reviews in 2017 – including four at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and two at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility.

Attorney General Rob Bonta described the situation as “cruel, inhumane and unacceptable,” and called for greater oversight and resources. Private prison operators GEO Group, MTC and CoreCivic responded with statements defending their compliance with ICE standards. The investigation also highlighted specific issues at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, such as overcapacity, strip‑search policies, and continued shortages of beds, toilets and medical staffing.