Carlitos Ricardo Parias, detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, complained about the facility’s water quality. During a video call, he showed his family a bottle filled with drinking water containing worm-like creatures.
Immigration attorney Carlos Jurado shared this video with The Times, expressing concerns over the water quality. Jurado criticized the treatment of detainees, highlighting the poor conditions they face. “We wouldn’t give this kind of water to our pets,” he stated.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson denied these claims, stating the facility uses the same water as local residents and businesses. “Staff and detainees alike consume this water,” the spokesperson assured in a statement. They added that detainees receive meals, water, medical care, and can communicate with family and lawyers.
Despite these assurances, immigrant rights attorneys received multiple complaints about the facility’s conditions. Carl Bergquist from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles is among the voices raising concerns. His organization is part of a lawsuit against DHS and ICE, focusing on conditions at the Mojave Desert detention center.
Detainees initiated hunger strikes, protesting against the conditions. A federal order by U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes instructed improvements at the facility but faced criticism from DHS.
“This is another example of an activist judge’s bias against ICE,” the DHS spokesperson commented on the ruling.
Judge Sykes’ order prohibits unnecessary segregation of detainees and mandates a plan for improved medical care and disability accommodations. It also requires third-party monitors for oversight.
Parias claimed conditions haven’t improved, citing uncleansed floors and dining areas as examples of neglect. Larry Aguilar, another detainee, highlighted issues with food quality and staff behavior. He reported that detainees haven’t been allowed outside in the past two months, only given access to a courtyard with an open ceiling.
Aguilar emphasized, “We’ve been locked in here without seeing the sun.” Despite court-ordered changes, detainees report little improvement in their situation.
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