Rep. Chu Denounces ICE Decision to Keep Adelanto Processing Center Open

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) released the following statement:

"Today my heart breaks for the detained immigrants in GEO Group's custody who now face a future in a facility that has consistently violated their basic human and constitutional rights. There is no public evidence available that GEO Group is capable of reversing its long history-confirmed by non-profit, media, and government reports-of neglecting and mistreating immigrants detained at Adelanto, where inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, and even preventable deaths have been the norm. I will work my hardest to protect the rights of those there and other immigrant detention facilities across the country. Awaiting adjudication on an immigration case should never result in devastating illness or preventable death. Today's decision does not change my strong conviction that Adelanto should be closed, and given GEO Group's track record, I also reaffirm my position that DOJ should drop its motion to lift the intake prohibition there."

Members of Congress have consistently raised concerns about the unconstitutional conditions and health care risks posed to detained immigrants within the low-capacity Adelanto facility, including in a 2015 letterand December 2023 letterto the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Last week, Rep. Judy Chu led 20 of her colleagues in additional advocacy as a deadline to decide the facility's fate by September 30, 2024, approached-urging DHS to close the facility and DOJ to cease its pursuits in federal court related to Adelanto.