In the middle of the Mojave Desert, at a detention center run by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, something is boiling over.
At least 40 detainees at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center in California are on a hunger strike. Their complaints are not political. They are basic: filthy water, moldy food, and retaliation for speaking up.
Water coolers at the facility routinely remain empty for hours at a time, detainees say. When they are filled, the drinking water appears murky. Sometimes, strands of hair are seen floating inside. Food served to detainees has been described as moldy and inedible.
Advocates say the hunger strike has also set participants up for retaliation from guards and staff.
The Conditions
The Adelanto facility, located in California’s high desert about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, has a long history of complaints. Detainees have previously reported inadequate medical care, excessive use of solitary confinement, and unsanitary conditions.
This latest protest appears to be a breaking point.
Detainees are refusing meals to draw attention to the conditions they endure every day. They say the water is not safe to drink. The food is not safe to eat. And when they complain, they are punished.
ICE has not yet issued a detailed response to the specific allegations of filthy water and moldy food. The agency has previously defended its detention standards, saying facilities are regularly inspected and meet federal requirements.
But detainees and their advocates disagree.
The Response
Advocacy groups have called for an immediate investigation into the Adelanto facility. They want independent monitors to inspect the water quality, the food service, and the treatment of hunger strikers.
They also want the detainees protected from retaliation. Hunger strikes are protected forms of protest in many detention settings, but advocates say Adelanto has a pattern of punishing those who speak out.
The Bottom Line
At least 40 detainees at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center in California’s Mojave Desert are on a hunger strike over filthy drinking water, moldy food, and retaliation for complaints. Water coolers are often empty, and when filled, the water appears murky with floating hair. Food has been described as moldy and inedible. Advocates say hunger strikers are being punished for protesting. ICE has not yet responded specifically to the allegations.
