On April 25th, Faith In the Valley, a faith-based organization based in the Central Valley, hosted a pilgrimage highlighting direct issues impacting rural communities and their residents. Community members from Stockton and its surrounding areas traveled 187 miles to Bakersfield, making a few stops along the way to hear testimonies about what needs to change and what has been directly impacting their respective areas.
As they arrived in Bakersfield, people gathered in the rain to listen openly about how rent increases, community support, food accessibility, lack of healthcare assistance, and negligence at a detention center are directly impacting individuals.
Pastor Madeleine “Maggie” Guekguezian with the United Methodist Church of Merced traveled to Bakersfield to demonstrate the breadth of the issues prevalent today that continue to impact all communities. Guekguezian shared that back in October, during a clergy meeting that included many individuals from across the Central Valley, she posed the question: What can we do that speaks to our faith and to the call, to the love and dignity of the most vulnerable people in this time?
“I was one of the voices there that said, what if we made some pilgrimage specifically thinking of our undocumented siblings to Kern County’s detention centers. That seed of an idea grew into what became our seeds of a whole pilgrimage,” said Guekguezian.
She went on to explain that she attended the event and decided to travel because those voices that go unnoticed matter.
“I’m here because I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I don’t think I could live with myself. Knowing I had the ability to do or say something,” said Guekguezian “Their lives matter. Their lives matter.”
Gabriel Galindo, a resident of Taft, shared that he attended because he enjoys giving back to his community. He emphasized the organization’s direct efforts with his community as part of the reason he was in attendance.
One of the main focuses of the pilgrimage was to reach a handful of people to sign a petition that would allow inspections inside immigration detention facilities. In Kern County, reports of unsanitary conditions within these facilities have posed a risk to detainees and their health.
Back in December, two of the detention centers, one in McFarland and California City, were reported to have a scabies outbreak. Detainees have even shared that conditions at California City are by far the worst they have experienced, with spoiled food, neglect of health, and contaminated water.
Rafael Bustos Alonso, a 36-year-old man from Mexico and a former detainee of all three detention facilities in Kern County, shared his testimony with those in attendance. He served two years at Golden State Annex in McFarland before being transferred to Mesa Verde in Bakersfield, where he spent an additional seven months, and was later transferred to Core Civic in California City.
Alonso first began by thanking individuals who continue to support and advocate for better conditions for those inside those centers. He then emphasized the need for more routine inspections of these facilities.
“When I was there in Mesa Verde, there was mildew and like rust in the walls, and a lot of people could get sick with that, but another of my main concerns that I want to talk about is the medical negligence and that the nurses are not prepared,” said Alonso.
Other detainees have also echoed a similar concern by sharing that they’ll be denied medical assistance or medications needed. In August 2025, California City’s Core Civic opened without the proper permits and without passing health inspections. Alonso added that when California City opened, it was unprepared.
He also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to share his experience with others, in hopes that it can help in some way. He continued to share that staff at the detention centers are often rude and retaliate against detainees who speak up about issues they experience or witness.
Despite the treatment he encountered while being detained, he remained positive.
“My family and for the most of it was God. The praying, the faith, and just staying positive kept me moving forward,” said Alonoso.
California City’s Core Civic Detention Center is also among the most expensive. Everything in Cal City typically costs at least $5. For him, California City has been by far the worst of the other two.
“Everything’s expensive, and people who get there they don’t have any money. There’s no way to use a phone to call their loved ones. The food portion that they give you is very little, and we did a couple of hunger and labor strikes,” shared Alonso.
Outside of detention centers, community members face other issues of healthcare affordability that plague their daily routine.
Francisca Alaniz, with Lideres Campesinas North, shared her testimony on her medical journey with cancer and accessibility to healthcare.
“I didn’t expect cancer; it came upon me, and I had a lot of challenges that I needed to face. Unfortunately, I had an insurance that didn’t cover very much besides basic essentials. Somehow, my doctor was mistaken and told me that everything would be covered through my insurance. I was on my way to the hospital, you know, I was surprised by the doctor telling me everything was covered, but my cancer could’ve metastasized,” said Alaniz.
She continued explaining that while she was en route from Wasco to her surgery for her cancer, her surgery was canceled without an explanation. Although she remained hopeful despite the cancellation, she couldn’t help but feel less than.
“I was hopeful I was able to catch my cancer on time, but at the same time, having a cancer like that, you cannot just leave me. I’m not an animal. I was begging a whole month, went by and I found myself asking my employer to find an insurance that would cover. I pleaded, I begged, the only thing I didn’t do was fall to my knees and ask for help for insurance to cover and help,” shared Alaniz with tears dripping down her face.
Although her faith in God and being on Medi-Cal receiving her medications has allowed her to live another day, her main concern lies in the uncertainty of the healthcare system.
“What about tomorrow, when that is taken from me. Will I not be checked on? Will I not have my medications? That is the uncertainty that I face every day,” said Alaniz.
