CALIFORNIA CITY, CA — U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla visited the state’s largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center on Tuesday to investigate reports about conditions inside the facility.
The senators arrived at the facility in California City, located in eastern Kern County, after detainees and their families raised concerns about the treatment of those held there. The center, which is enclosed by barbed wire and includes a watchtower, has the capacity to hold more than 2,500 people.
According to ICE, the site currently holds about 1,450 people. This population has grown steadily since transfers to the facility began in late summer 2025.
Medical and Health Concerns
Fox26 News reported that Schiff and Padilla were troubled by the living conditions and healthcare at the site. The senators expressed alarm over a lack of healthy food, limited mental health services, and poor medical care for the growing number of people in federal custody.
Senator Schiff pointed to one case of medical neglect involving a woman with diabetes. Schiff said the woman told staff about her condition when she arrived, but she reportedly did not receive any treatment.
National Detention Trends
During the tour, the senators also noted that immigration detention has reached record levels across the country. According to the lawmakers, ICE currently holds nearly 73,000 people nationwide—the highest number in U.S. history.
The senators asked officials if detainees were getting the basic care they need. Schiff and Padilla said the investigation aimed to show where medical care and human rights are failing as the federal government manages record-high detention numbers.
