Last week, Kern Sol News Reporters had the opportunity to follow up with Hilario, a detainee held at California City’s immigration detention center. One of the two reporters also briefly spoke with two other detainees.
As we left Delano for California City, we expected to encounter the same procedures and regulations we had followed back in January. Upon approaching the guards, we were greeted differently than last time. They made it almost difficult to see Hilario and the other two detainees, hinting that we aren’t allowed to see more than one detainee. Eddy Laine, a KWESI volunteer, had briefly explained to the guard that they were informed otherwise over the phone and that we would be seeing the detainees regardless. There was a total of five volunteers -Eddy, Aimee, two other volunteers, and I (Crystal), who came as a group.
Upon approaching the guards, I (Crystal) noticed that we were greeted differently than on our first visit. They made it difficult to see Hilario, hinting that we could only see one detainee: the guard had threatened us, saying that if we moved our seats to visit the detainees, we would cause issues for them, then paused and said we would face similar repercussions.
This would be the first time I (Crystal) spoke to Hilario, and all I knew about him was that his energy was magnifying even through the window’s separation. Hilario greeted us with a smile that radiated enthusiasm and gratitude for our visit. Even through the window, he managed to embrace us in a hug. I noticed, however, that his face lit up specifically when Eddy and Aimee came through the door and sat down.
Hilario told me (Crystal) that the conditions have worsened inside the facility, describing how a fight had broken out in his dorm, and they were put on immediate lockdown-no showers, no letters, no phone calls were allowed until Saturday of that week. He explained that the fight broke out because of the use of a microwave in his dorm (M13), where 80 detainees stay.
Hilario also informed us that the guards had begun to pepper-spray them not only in the eyes but wherever it fell on their bodies. As he shared the insights of the conditions, his face began to redden with disappointment and sadness. Sadness for a system that has continued to fail him.
Seeing Hilario after about two months broke my (Aimee) heart. On my last visit, he seemed so full of hope and spent the entire visit smiling and joking. This last visit, his demeanor changed; he seemed crushed, his shoulders slumped, and his head hung low. Hilario spoke to us about his medical problems. He has a hernia and has requested to go to the doctor numerous times. On March 13, Hilario had a standing appointment to visit the doctor, but they failed to take him. If they do decide to allow him to receive medical care, medical staff only check his pulse and his weight before discharging him. Hilario expressed that he is still in substantial pain, but they took away his waistband and will not give him his medications.
Hilario said, “This place is not in condition to detain because they don’t have experience or capacity. They don’t have respect and they’re violent. Every time there is a problem, they don’t let us shower; they lock us up. We can’t even do our programs. It is a struggle to even get trash bags, and they give them to you in a bad mood. There is no shampoo or soap, and sometimes there is no toilet paper. There are two microwaves for so many people. The clothing is not in good condition; the underwear they give you falls apart, and everything is so expensive to purchase.”
As Hilario spoke about his conditions, tears began to slowly fall down his face. Hilario is an extremely infectious man; when he laughs and makes jokes, you can’t help but join in, and when he cries and shows his vulnerability, you also can’t help but join in. Despite his trials and tribulations, Hilario still found it in his heart to ask about my (Aimee) unborn son and spoke to me (Aimee) about how children are blessings and about his own.
Hilario spoke about his background a bit more this time around. He mentioned that he was 12 years old when he met his parents because they abandoned him at six months old, so he has never known advice or wisdom from a father. That was until he met Eddy. Hilario and Eddy have a beautiful relationship. Hilario calls Eddy Father Eddy, and Eddy calls Hilario son. Despite their language barriers, they are still able to communicate efficiently. It is always a pleasure seeing Hilario and Eddy interact.
In our last visit, Hilario mentioned that the facility took over $100 from his account, determined it was a mistake, and failed to return the money. To this day, two months later, he has still not received his money back. In January, Hilario also submitted paperwork in hopes of being released, and his attorney only received it recently. Although, since January, Hilario and his attorney have been working on filing a habeas corpus petition, which is a writ that allows a detainee to challenge their imprisonment in front of a court. In recent months, this writ has helped numerous detainees find freedom, giving Hilario hope.
