A California Democrat is pushing the Biden administration to make a decision before leaving office to close a privately run U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in the state.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) led Democrats in a public plea Wednesday afternoon outside the U.S. Capitol to shutter the Adelanto Detention Center in her backyard, just outside Los Angeles.
“Those detained inside have shared alarming accounts that have been corroborated time and time again by prolific reporting from non-profits, media, federal and state governments, and even ICE officials themselves,” Chu said in prepared remarks.
Chu blasted GEO Group, a private government contractor, for failing to meet government-imposed care standards for “years” and beckoned the Biden administration to finally take action and close this particular detention facility, one of many across the country.
“For years, Adelanto has been among the detention centers with the most complaints to ICE’s reporting line for allegations of sexual and physical abuses,” Chu said. “The facts are out there, the alarm bells have been ceaselessly rung, and yet Adelanto’s doors remain open.”
GEO Group’s representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Chu’s plea comes at a moment in time when ICE is said to be considering shutting down Adelanto.
Last year, media reports indicated that ICE had self-imposed a Dec. 19, 2023, deadline to decide whether to shut down the facility. It did not make a decision and moved the deadline two weeks back.
Chu said she was particularly concerned because the GEO Group signed a contract to continue its services through 2029, an indication that the facility would not be closed.
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“These announcements send mixed messages, and this much is clear: Should ICE decide to keep Adelanto open, GEO Group can continue its dangerous reign,” Chu said. “All of these facts are why, for nearly a decade, my colleagues and I have been calling to close the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.”
Chu was joined by other progressive House Democrats, who have previously called for the abolishment of ICE, saying its congressionally imposed mission hurts immigrants.