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Judge Orders ICE to Ensure Adequate Care at California City Detention Center, Names Independent Monitor

The court created a 120-day outside medical watchdog with on-site access to track compliance, filing reports to the judge.

Overview

  • The order requires constitutionally adequate medical care, timely confidential access to counsel, temperature-appropriate clothing and blankets at no cost, and at least one hour of daily outdoor recreation.
  • The court provisionally certified a class covering more than 1,000 people held at the privately run facility now and in the future.
  • The independent monitor must be a third-party medical expert agreed to by the sides or appointed by the court, with authority to review records, conduct on-site inspections, and interview detainees and staff during the initial 120-day term.
  • The ruling also mandates adequate health care staffing, comprehensive medical intake by a qualified provider within 12 hours, timely specialist referrals, responsive emergency services, and a functional sick-call system.
  • ICE and DHS disputed the allegations and said the site meets detention standards, while recent filings noted a missed appointment for a detainee’s prostate cancer results that the judge flagged as a serious concern.