On Tuesday, January 27, the California City Council held its bi-monthly meeting. California City has been at the forefront of recent controversy following the opening of CoreCivic in 2025. CoreCivic faces allegations of unlawfully operating without proper documentation, mistreatment of detainees, and unhygienic practices.
Community members first gathered at CoreCivic’s facility to protest before ultimately joining the city council meeting via Zoom.
“They should be applying for a conditional use permit like we’ve seen in many other cities and counties. We wanted to check in about compliance with SB 9, California law, which requires 180 days’ notice and two hearings. Upon some of our members doing canvassing in the community, we noticed that a lot of people didn’t know what was happening with this permit or didn’t receive enough notice,” said community member Marcela.
Other speakers agreed with Marcela, raising questions about permit compliance. Several residents cited reports that CoreCivic began operations before obtaining a conditional use permit, arguing that the city failed to follow state-mandated public review procedures.
Estoban Cristobal, community member and former detainee in California City asked the city council to revisit the legality of the conditional use permit.
“But like any other program, when it comes to conditional permits, it will be shut down. So, I’m asking you to apply the same rules for this detention center, especially since this is a location where you have the power to oversee it,” said Cristobal.
“I was detained on November 26, and I spent ten days in a horrible detention center all over again. California City has the majority of people with great values, so I am asking you to continue pushing for those values and to continue pushing for this facility to have a legal conditional use permit,” continued Cristobal.
During public comment, attendees also described conditions inside the facility, referencing accounts from legal advocates and former detainees. Concerns included delayed medical care, lack of sanitation, and neglect.
“As you already know, CoreCivic and ICE have a long track record of neglect and abuse, including medical neglect, sexual abuse, poor working conditions, and forced labor. CoreCivic was sued for these horrendous conditions, specifically for what is taking place at the facility in California City,” said Arabi Hassan, a lawyer and immigration rights advocate. “This is not just happening here; it’s happening all around the country. They are notorious for this, and in recent months, we have seen ICE and DHS tactics escalate dramatically and become violent and fatal.”
Former detainees were also in attendance and shared their lived experiences inside CoreCivic, describing the living conditions as uninhabitable.
“Since I got there, I didn’t see a doctor until a month later. For the last month I was there, in December, I kept asking to see a doctor for my medical conditions, and they didn’t acknowledge my requests. When it first opened, you could see electrical wires hanging from the ceiling. The water is not good when you open the faucet, rust comes out. Food is passed out cold; sometimes they forget to collect trays, and some people are left without eating,” said Rafael Bustos Alonso.
Councilmembers did not engage in back-and-forth discussion with speakers. The meeting concluded without a formal vote or action related to CoreCivic. Residents of California City reiterated that the controversy surrounding CoreCivic is not just about the facility itself, but also about the city’s role in allowing a detention center to operate within its borders and the responsibilities local government bears.
