Carlitos Ricardo Parias has voiced longstanding concerns about the drinking water quality at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. During a video call from the Southern California facility where he is detained, he showed his family a plastic bottle containing drinking water tainted with what appeared to be worm-like creatures.
Carlos Jurado, Parias’ immigration lawyer, shared a video of the incident. He emphasized that such water is unfit for consumption by any person or animal. “The saddest thing is that they hunt us like animals on the streets and don’t even treat us like animals in jails because no one would give that kind of water to their dog or cat,” Jurado stated.
A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security refuted claims regarding poor facility conditions. The spokesperson asserted that the facility’s water supply is sourced from the city of Adelanto, the same as that used by local residents and businesses.
DHS also noted that facility staff, along with detainees, have continuous access to the water via fountains and coolers. It was emphasized that detainees receive proper meals, water, and medical treatment, along with opportunities to maintain contact with family and legal representatives.
Despite this, immigrant rights advocates, including those at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), have documented numerous complaints from detainees about basic sustenance and care, even after a recent federal court order mandating improvements.
Carl Bergquist, a CHIRLA policy counsel, confirmed reports of violations of the court’s orders. The organization is involved in a federal lawsuit against DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the substandard conditions at the Mojave Desert detention center.
Detainees have responded by organizing hunger strikes to protest these conditions. Last month, U.S. District Judge Sunshine S. Sykes issued a preliminary injunction requiring DHS and ICE to make immediate improvements at the facility.
Sykes’ order restricted the government’s ability to place detainees in administrative segregation unless absolutely necessary for security reasons or at the detainee’s request. ICE was instructed to craft a remedial plan addressing medical care and disability accommodations within 14 days. Additionally, two independent monitors were to gain access to the facility for oversight on medical care and general conditions.
ICE has reportedly complied with some orders, yet key issues like water and food quality, alongside sanitation, persist unaddressed. A federal appeal is ongoing as the government seeks to pause Sykes’ ruling.
Parias, who was involved in a prior incident with federal immigration agents, has observed no improvements. He reported that facility areas like floors and dining spaces remain unsanitary. He described a situation where detainees found worm-like creatures in their drinking water from shared coolers.
Another detainee, Larry Aguilar, confirmed finding creatures in the water supply and shared ongoing frustrations with subpar meals and lack of outdoor access. Aguilar mentioned that detainees have been confined indoors for two months with no explanation, lacking any exposure to sunlight.