Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing a glaring issue at a detention facility in Southern California. Due to an outdated COVID-19 court order, this facility is currently operating at a mere 0.3% capacity. Shockingly, the federal government appears to be turning a blind eye to this situation, failing to take any action to address the problem.
Situated in Adelanto, approximately 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, this detention center has the ability to house up to 1,940 migrants. However, as confirmed by an ICE spokesperson on Thursday, it presently accommodates just six individuals.
This significant underutilization stems from a judicial ruling in 2020 that prohibited the facility from accepting more migrants amidst the pandemic. The court order aimed to ensure that detainees maintain a distance of six feet from one another in all aspects of their daily lives, encompassing sleeping, eating, showering, and other daily activities.
Curiously, even after President Biden lifted the national coronavirus emergency, this facility remains severely underpopulated. According to a letter penned by Representative Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) to ICE on October 3, the facility is fully funded by taxpayer resources. However, it raises concerns that despite the availability of resources, only a handful of migrants are being detained.
This situation calls for immediate attention and action to address the persisting underutilization of this facility and reassess its operations.