Bay Area Congressman Describes "Horrific" Conditions At ICE Detention Center

Here are the morning’s top stories on Wednesday, January 14, 2026

• In recent days, immigration authorities have turned away members of Congress who were trying to visit a detention facility in Minnesota. But here in California, Congressman Ro Khanna recently did get inside the newest and largest immigration detention center in the state. And he said what he found was alarming.
• Survivors of November’s mass shooting in Stockton gathered at the state capitol Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to change what they say are misplaced priorities in California’s budget.

South Bay Rep. Ro Khanna ‘Horrified’ After Visit To California City ICE Detention Center

A Bay Area lawmaker said conditions at the newest immigration jail in California amounted to “a violation of human rights” after an oversight visit this month.

South Bay Rep. Ro Khanna described what he called the “systemic neglect” of more than 900 people currently held at the California City Detention Facility, a private prison in the Mojave Desert, which opened in late August under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We’re treating these people like animals, not like human beings … It’s an embarrassment for the country,” he told KQED. “Whatever you think about the consequences for people who are undocumented, we should all agree that you treat people with dignity.”

Khanna’s visit comes at a time when ICE is locking up more people than ever in its history — roughly 69,000 as of late December — as the Trump administration continues its massive ramp-up in immigration enforcement as part of an aggressive campaign to deport millions of non-citizens. Advocates have raised alarms over poor conditions in ICE detention as the number of in-custody deaths surged to its highest level in more than 20 years, with 32 people dying in 2025.

Congress has a legal right to inspect immigration detention centers, even unannounced. But over the past year, ICE has repeatedly denied access to politicians who have tried to exercise their power of oversight. Last July, several House Democrats sued the Trump administration after ICE issued a policy requiring seven days advance notice to schedule a visit. Last month, a federal judge blocked that policy while the case unfolded.

Khanna’s visit to the California City facility was pre-arranged. His office first reached out to ICE on Dec. 4 to set up the visit, which took place Jan. 5, a staff member said. Khanna said he and an aide spent about three hours there, and took an official tour of the facility — which is set to become ICE’s largest in the state, with capacity for nearly 26,000 detainees. Khanna was reportedly told there were 1,428 detainees, including 215 women. The most recently available ICE data available, from Dec. 26, shows 922 detainees — although that number could have increased over the past two weeks.

The lawmaker said he also had two group sessions where he was able to talk with 47 detained people who had signed up to meet him. No prison staff was present in the meetings, he said. “During the tour, [the warden and other prison officials] were showing us they were going by the book, and they took standards really seriously,” he said. “Then when we met the detainees, I was just floored.” Khanna said he spoke with a man who said he had blood in his urine and was still waiting for medical care after seven days. He said people described rocks in their food, undrinkable water, punishing lockdowns four times a day and no-contact visits with family members. “It was really dehumanizing, and many of them were in tears,” he said. “Some of them had been in this country for over a decade, paying taxes, and they’re just shocked that they had been sent to this facility.”

Stockton Mass Shooting Survivors Call On Lawmakers To Allocate Funds For Community Healing

Patrick Peterson was one of several people affected by gun violence in Stockton rallying at the state capitol Tuesday in support for adequate funding for crime victims. His 14-year-old son Amari was one of three children and an adult killed in a mass shooting in November at a 2-year-old’s birthday party. 13 others were wounded.

“I’m appalled, I’m distraught. I’m torn apart. My son is gone and he’s never coming back,” Peterson said.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal includes nearly $200 million in new investments towards crime prevention. But advocates point out that no new ongoing funding for survivors was allocated. Tanish Hollins is with the non-profit Californians for Safety and Justice. “Despite clear evidence that when survivors receive the immediate help that they need with relocation, transportation, and basic needs, they are more likely to cooperate with investigations that actually help solve crimes,” Hollins said.

Lawmakers last year approved $100 million in one-time funding, but survivors say that money is temporary and doesn’t meet the need. They’re asking funds be allocated towards free mental health services for children affected by gun violence, bring back flexible cash assistance to pay for funerals and healthcare and continue funding trauma recovery centers.