Community leaders and InterFaith leaders from across the state gathered and led a three day conference in Kern County to expose the conditions caused by private prison corporations in California. Kern County currently has three for profit detention facilities: Golden State Annex in McFarland, Mesa Verde in Bakersfield, and in California City.
In California City, between 500-600 people were detained without any proper documentation or permits. The prison once used as a correctional facility by CoreCivic reopened as a for profit detention site and has been illegally operating since August without any permits. The site is located near Mojave Desert and about 67 miles from the City of Bakersfield. California City has the largest detention center to date in the state of California.
Across the three day led event, community leaders and interfaith leaders were also joined by family members of those detained by ICE and immigrants rights groups organizations. In McFarland, many ongoers demonstrated their support for protestors by honking their vehicles and raising their hands in solidarity.
Lourdes Medina, one of the many community leaders present with SIREN began the press conference addressing attendees with a powerful message, “Here you are today as Californians as all Americans, as humans saying Basta. Down with ICE! We are all humans. Behind me is a prison full of barbed wire. ICE detention centers must be shut down.”
In a one- class lawsuit filed by detainees at the Golden State Annex in 2023, the suit highlights the mistreatment and harmful conditions faced in these immigration detention centers. Detainees argued that, “ICE and GEO group harassed, taunted, and denied family visitations, access to worship services.”
Bryan Osorio, program manager for Building Healthy Communities Kern who shared the Central Valley’s standpoint. Osorio acknowledged that “the challenge we face does not stop within our own city limits. Our concerns for the health and safety for all are beyond borders, beyond city limits.”
Osorio, said the negative impacts these centers facilitate onto families in the community by inducing fear and harmful tactics.
“Families are afraid to get food from food banks. It means people are afraid to get mental health services. This fear is a direct barrier and direct attack on the health of our neighbors,” said Osorio.
Leonel Flores, coordinator with immigrants rights coalition shared his testimony regarding his experience with immigration. Flores shared that though he does not have legal status, he remains unafraid.
“I have been in this struggle for more than 30 years, in front of the line, in front of this struggle, in front and back of this fight but here I am. Unfortunately, it has not been the same outcome for many and they remain detained in these unjust detention centers that deserved to be shut down immediately. We must continue to fight against this struggle against all odds,” he said.
Reverend Davina Jones at the Unite Church of Christ, shared the testimony of a black migrant from Mauritania, Africa who continues to face language barriers. The migrant was given the alias of Aliwa. Aliwa fled his country due to persecution he faced for protesting against racial injustice made upon black Mauritanians.
He arrived in the United States, seeking asylum at the border only then was he apprehended by border patrol for twelve days. He was transported to Adelanto’s Detention Center and was detained there for over two months.
“From the day I was detained. I could not understand what was happening to me. My first language is Filani. I do not speak English or Spanish, I could not tell people what I needed or wanted. I felt like I was invisible. Officers spoke quickly and no interpretation was provided. Papers were given to me to sign but no explained what they meant,” he said.
Recent lawsuits and testimonies have alleged that ICE has threatened detainees to sign voluntary deportation forms without any explanation or legal assistance.
In his testimony, Aliwa said that not once was he provided with an interpreter and explained how the silence of not being understood made him feel powerless and invisible. He said authorities should provide information on legal rights, asylum procedures, and that no detainee be coerced into signing any documentation without full explanation.
“I call on the authorities to treat all detainees with humanity. I call on the authorities for freedom. We should not be detained at all. We should not be detained at all. We have the right to seek asylum and to be protected. We need to be free” said Aliwa, in his testimony.
