Inside Adelanto: Volunteer Visits, Detainee Accounts, and ICE Detention Facility Operations

This report examines California’s Adelanto ICE Processing Center through the experiences of a volunteer visitor and a former detainee, along with information about the facility’s operator, profits, and sale to the Department of Homeland Security. It also includes official responses to allegations about conditions inside the facility.

■ Facility access and volunteer support
- A volunteer describes weekly four-hour round trips to meet ICE detainees at the remote Mojave Desert facility
- The facility houses nearly 2,000 detainees and has recorded deaths since September 201

■ Former detainee account
- A former detainee describes poor conditions and avoiding facility food and water
- She says she spent more than $2,000 on food and water during detention
- A lawyer-provided video apparently shows wormlike creatures in a drinking water bottle

■ Operator finances and facility sale
- GEO Group operates 52 U.S. facilities, including 24 listed as ICE detention facilities
- The company reported record profits and sold the Adelanto facility to DHS while continuing to operate it

■ Official response
- ICE disputes allegations of subprime conditions and says the facility uses the same water as the city
- ICE says detainees have access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care

This is suited to viewers seeking an overview of immigration detention conditions, private facility operations, and advocacy efforts. It provides a focused look at reported experiences and official responses without offering a comprehensive independent audit of the facility.