The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to seek guidance from state and federal agencies on the county’s authority to inspect or monitor local ICE detention facilities, amid public concern over reported conditions.
County Counsel Margarita Graham said Kern County cannot shut down or directly regulate the privately operated facilities, which contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We have no enforcement power. We can request to inspect, but we cannot issue violations or force entry if the facility refuses,” she said.
Assistant County Counsel Jennifer Feige said inspections are complicated by overlapping oversight from multiple federal and state agencies.
According to the California Senate Committee on Public Safety, SB 1132, which took effect in January 2025, allows county and city health officers to inspect private detention facilities for health and sanitation. The law does not require annual inspections but lets officers act as needed to protect detainees’ health.
Only one California county, San Bernardino, has conducted an inspection since the law went into effect, focusing on food processing and service aspects of the facilities.
County staff said inspections can only occur with the facility’s consent or if officials obtain a warrant.
The discussion followed public concern and an Oct. 8 letter presented to the board detailing what detainees described as inhumane treatment and medical neglect at the California City ICE Detention Center, operated by CoreCivic.
The letter, written on behalf of detainees recently transferred from another facility, included reports of inhumane treatment, medical neglect, and unsafe conditions at the California City ICE Detention Center.
It described transfers without notice, extreme lockdowns of more than 10 hours a day, delayed or missing medications, and poor drinking water quality.
Detainees also reported being denied religious or allergy-appropriate meals, limited contact with family and lawyers, and harsh treatment by staff, including yelling and punitive measures for speaking up about conditions.
Community members have cited the letter in asking the county to take action. Read more about the letter here.
Kern Sol News spoke with a detainee’s family about conditions at the California City ICE facility. One detainee’s wife said her husband and others were punished for speaking up about conditions inside the facility.
She said they were locked in a room for 24 hours with no food and no contact with their families. She added that staff retaliated against detainees who raised concerns, creating fear among those held there. Read the story here.
Supervisor David Peters referred county staff to request legal guidance on inspection powers, and Supervisor Mike Couch suggested notifying federal agencies of the complaints. The board voted unanimously to approve both measures.
Kern County has three ICE-contracted detention facilities, more than any other county in California. Chair Leticia Perez said supervisors are not permitted to enter the facilities without authorization.
“My plan was to arrive there, but as of today, I’ve learned that is not permissible. We need clarification on that,” Perez said.
