U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff said conditions at an ICE detention center in California City raise serious concerns about medical care, mental health services and oversight, following a visit to the facility early this week.

The Democratic senators toured the privately operated detention center, which currently holds about 1,400 people and has a capacity of up to 2,500. 

Both lawmakers said during the press conference that many detainees they spoke with had no prior criminal history and were detained during routine immigration appointments.

Padilla said one of the most alarming issues was inadequate medical care. He spoke with a woman who has diabetes and said she has not received treatment during her two months in detention, despite the condition being documented during intake.

“That is very frightening,” Padilla said, and added that other detainees reported untreated chronic and serious medical conditions.

Schiff said mental health care was also lacking. He said that family separation and the threat of deportation can be traumatic. Especially for people held under civil not criminal detention.

The senators said detainees reported problems with food and water, including water that smelled bad, reports of mold and stomach aches. 

Some detainees also described being housed in conditions that resemble a prison rather than a dormitory-style setting.

According to the senators, detainees are housed in large “pods” with roughly 80 to 85 people, with two individuals per cell. 

They also toured an area used for administrative segregation, where detainees are held alone in cells.

Padilla said staff acknowledged gaps in care and services, particularly as the facility population grows. The senators warned that conditions could worsen if the center reaches full capacity.

Both lawmakers also raised concerns about detainees being transferred far from their families and legal counsel. Padilla said people from Los Angeles and other parts of California, as well as from other states, are being held at the remote facility.

Schiff said enforcing detention standards requires stronger congressional oversight, including hearings and investigations into deaths in custody. 

He mentioned that six people have died in ICE custody so far this year nationwide, following a record number of deaths last year.

“There is no shortage of money,” Schiff said, pointing to billions of dollars allocated to immigration enforcement. “What’s lacking are enforceable standards and accountability.”

Padilla and Schiff said they do not plan to support the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill released this week; they cited a lack of safeguards to address detention conditions.

The Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill is Congress’s yearly legislation that sets how much money DHS can spend and how it is allowed to use those funds. 

The bill covers agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard, funding everything from immigration enforcement and detention to disaster response and airport security. 

The senators said they will continue visiting detention facilities and pressing for oversight, especially as they believe the Republican-controlled Congress has failed to adequately hold the administration accountable.

Padilla said the visit highlights broader issues with the nation’s immigration system, which he described as outdated and in need of reform.

“Enforcement must be carried out within the law,” Padilla said, “with respect for civil rights, due process and the Constitution.”