A physician appointed by a federal court to monitor healthcare conditions at California City, the state’s largest immigration detention facility, determined the center was noncompliant with judicial orders requiring adequate medical care, according to a report filed on Monday.
US Judge Maxine Chesney had ordered the investigation in February following a class-action lawsuit alleging medical neglect at the facility located northeast of Los Angeles. The judge outlined eight healthcare system components that Immigration and Customs Enforcement needed to properly implement, including staffing levels, medical screenings, specialist access, emergency services, medication distribution, and a system for detainees to request care. Court-appointed monitor Dr. Muthusamy Anandkumar found the facility noncompliant in all eight areas, characterizing the failures as structural rather than isolated incidents.
Anandkumar’s findings detailed significant operational deficiencies. Intake screenings were incomplete, potentially missing urgent conditions. Physical examinations lacked specificity, with providers documenting only generic notations rather than detailed findings. Specialist referral processes were disorganized, with patients experiencing delays and unexplained denials. Medication distribution was severely dysfunctional, with patients reporting delays and improper handling of pills. Patients with psychiatric needs deteriorated in custody before being hospitalized, and individuals with disabilities reported inadequate accommodations and injuries during transport.
The facility, which opened last year on grounds of a former state prison, was initially intended to house people in good health but received many individuals with complex medical needs, according to the monitor. Staff shortages were severe enough that personnel were assigned clinical duties before completing orientation and tasked with training others. The investigation encompassed review of 141 medical records, a three-day site visit in May, and interviews with 40 patients and staff members.
DHS and CoreCivic, the private corporation operating the facility, disputed the characterization of conditions. CoreCivic stated it provides comprehensive services and prioritizes detainee health and safety, noting that specialty care scheduling depends on outside provider availability. The Prison Law Office, representing the detained plaintiffs, characterized the monitor’s report as confirming widespread healthcare failures across all areas of medical care at the facility.
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