ICE hit with lawsuit over inadequate drinking water at California detention center; other serious allegations emerge | Hindustan Times

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a federal class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane conditions at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Southern California. The lawsuit, filed by detained migrants and immigrant-rights advocates, claims detainees have limited access to potable water, often described as dirty or foul-tasting, and are experiencing unsanitary, overcrowded conditions, insufficient food, and inadequate medical care. Plaintiffs allege these conditions are “worse than conditions in state and federal prison” and contribute to serious health issues.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied the allegations, asserting that detainees receive adequate food, water, medical care, and hygiene products, and that ICE detention standards are higher than those of many U.S. prisons. However, the lawsuit points to a recent surge in the facility’s population, from a few dozen to nearly 2,000 detainees, as overwhelming staffing and infrastructure, leading to deteriorating conditions.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argue that the conditions violate detainees’ basic human rights and the Constitution, demanding accountability and immediate action to ensure humane treatment. The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, ICE acting director Todd M. Lyons, and Jaime Rios, Acting Director of ICE’s Los Angeles Field Office, as defendants, and seeks to stop what they describe as ongoing human rights violations.

(Source：Hindustan Times)