Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) is leading a campaign urging the Biden administration to shut down the privately run Adelanto Detention Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility located near Los Angeles. Chu, joined by fellow Democrats, made her plea during a press event outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, citing years of alleged misconduct and abuse at the facility.
Chu criticized GEO Group, the private contractor that operates the facility, accusing the company of failing to meet government care standards. “For years, Adelanto has been among the detention centers with the most complaints to ICE’s reporting line for allegations of sexual and physical abuses,” Chu said in her prepared remarks. She called on the administration to take definitive action, stating, “The facts are out there, the alarm bells have been ceaselessly rung, and yet Adelanto’s doors remain open.”
The facility has faced scrutiny from advocacy groups, media, and government agencies for alleged mistreatment of detainees. Despite mounting complaints, GEO Group recently extended its contract to operate Adelanto through 2029, raising concerns among critics about the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing issues within the system.
Chu highlighted ICE’s missed self-imposed deadlines to decide on Adelanto’s future. Last year, reports indicated that ICE had set a December 19, 2023, deadline to determine whether the facility would remain operational, only to push the decision back by two weeks without resolution. “These announcements send mixed messages,” Chu said. “Should ICE decide to keep Adelanto open, GEO Group can continue its dangerous reign.”
Progressive lawmakers, some of whom have previously called for the abolition of ICE, joined Chu in her demands. They argue that ICE’s enforcement policies and private detention facilities harm immigrant communities and fail to uphold basic human rights.
GEO Group did not respond to requests for comment. As the administration considers its options, the push to close Adelanto highlights the ongoing debate over the role of private detention facilities in the U.S. immigration system and the broader impact of ICE policies on immigrant populations.
