Dozens of immigrants detained at facilities in Adelanto, California, joined a hunger strike in May protesting what they described as mold, inadequate medical care, poor food and retaliation by guards, according to advocates and family members.
At least 20 detainees at the Desert View Annex began refusing meals on May 19, with reports that up to 40 participated by midweek. Strikers demanded cleaner housing, accountability for deaths in custody and improved access to medical treatment.
The protest followed a California Department of Justice report documenting six detainee deaths in state facilities between September 2025 and March 2026, including multiple cases at Adelanto. Immigrant rights groups said detention populations at the complex had surged from hundreds to more than 2,000 in recent years.
The Department of Homeland Security denied that a hunger strike was underway and said detainees receive medical, dental and mental health services. Advocates filed a federal lawsuit seeking improved conditions, with a hearing scheduled for July. Two deaths at Adelanto were reported in 2026 alone, according to ICE statements reviewed by local media.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s 175-page report documented cold temperatures, poor sanitation and delayed medical treatment across facilities visited in 2025. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights said strikers also sought bond reform and the right to organize without retaliation. GEO Group operates the Adelanto complex under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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Sources:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/22/headlines