16 January 2026
Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov
Representatives Barragán and Chu Lead a California Member Letter Urging DHS and ICE to Investigate CoreCivic for Disability Rights Violations at California City Detention Facility
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Representatives Nanette Barragán (CA-44) and Judy Chu (CA-28) led a letter, signed by 26 Members of Congress, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), urging immediate federal oversight and accountability for serious violations at the California City Immigration Processing Center in Kern County.
The letter calls on DHS and ICE to refer CoreCivic, the private prison contractor operating the facility, to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for investigations into alarming reports of unsafe and unlawful treatment of detained immigrants with disabilities. The lawmakers’ action follows a September site visit by Disability Rights California (DRC), conducted just weeks after the facility opened. Despite its recent launch, DRC documented serious violations of federal disability protections and ICE detention standards, raising urgent concerns about the facility’s ability to safely and lawfully house individuals with disabilities. Key findings included delayed or denied medical care, missed medications, lack of mobility aids, unsafe conditions, and insufficient oversight.
“The reports coming out of the California City facility are deeply troubling and completely unacceptable,” said Rep. Nanette Barragán. “People with disabilities in ICE custody are being denied basic medical care, medication, and mobility assistance—protections that are guaranteed under federal law. DHS and ICE must act immediately to investigate these violations, hold CoreCivic accountable, and ensure that no one is subjected to neglect or abuse while in government custody.”
“People in detention, particularly those with disabilities, deserve to be treated with dignity and have legal rights to reasonable accommodations, necessary medical care, and protection from neglect and abuse. Unfortunately, the Trump administration continues to prove they are unwilling and incapable of enforcing basic federal disability and detention standards that protect the health and rights of those in custody,” said Rep. Chu. “That’s why I am proud to join Rep. Barragán in demanding a full investigation and immediate corrective action to protect the rights, health, and safety of people with disabilities at the California City Detention Facility and any of these facilities nationwide.”
The letter urges DHS and ICE to:
- Refer CoreCivic, the private prison contractor operating the facility, to the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for investigations.
- Conduct immediate inspections and require corrective actions to ensure detainees with disabilities have consistent access to medications, mobility aids, and appropriate medical care;
- Require public reporting by CRCL and OIG on investigative findings and remedial measures; and
- Enforce federal disability laws, including the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and ICE’s 2011 Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) across all California immigration detention facilities.
The lawmakers emphasized that the serious failures documented at the California City Immigration Processing Center demand immediate oversight and accountability, and that federal agencies must act swiftly to protect the civil and human rights of detained individuals with disabilities.
The Members who signed onto the letter are as follows: Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26), Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30), Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Rep. Dave Min (CA-47), Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Rep. Luz Rivas (CA-29), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Brad Sherman (CA-32), Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35), and Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45).
This letter was endorsed by Disability Rights California (DRC).
The full text of the letter can be found HERE.
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