Seven migrants detained in California have launched a class-action lawsuit against top US federal agencies, depicting a nightmarish environment of raw sewage, medical neglect, and violence inside a facility they have labelled a “torture chamber.”
The legal action, filed on 12 November against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, demands the immediate shutdown of the California City Correctional Centre and highlights the volatile conditions within the nation’s expanding detention network.
The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, detail a litany of abuses at the facility, which reopened in August 2025 with a capacity for 2,560 detainees. The lawsuit alleges severe overcrowding, failure to provide basic medical care, unsanitary conditions including exposed sewage, and assaults by staff.
These claims were preceded by a hunger strike in September involving over 100 detainees protesting their treatment. An ACLU attorney stated, “The conditions described in this lawsuit are inhumane and amount to torture.”
In response, a DHS spokesperson rejected the allegations, saying the department operates under “the highest standards” and is conducting an internal review.
This legal challenge strikes at the heart of the US government’s contentious immigration enforcement strategy, which saw a record $45 billion allocated for detention in 2025, leading to a record population of over 500,000 detainees.
The case echoes similar humanitarian crises in facilities in Ohio and Texas in recent years, suggesting systemic failures. While the detention centre provides jobs in Kern County, the potential liability from this and similar lawsuits could cost tens of millions of dollars.
The case is likely to intensify political pressure for greater congressional oversight and independent monitoring of detention facilities, with advocates warning that without urgent intervention, the situation risks further escalation and loss of life.
Written by Were Kelly
Sources: ACLU (aclu.org), Washington Times (washingtontimes.com).
