Community Rally in solidarity with people detained at Cal City ICE Facility-  Demands City Council immediately halt unlawful operation 

California City, CA -California City Correctional Facility has been operating for almost a month without a valid business license or updated conditional use permit. Detained people, attorneys and advocates continue to report deplorable  conditions, which led to more than 100 detained people stage a sit-in and refusing meals on Thursday, September 19th. The strikers were met with retaliation by guards and ICE including a multi-day lockdown and cut off access to telephones,  a blatant violation of their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, including the right to petition the government and the right to due process under the U.S Constitution. At least four individuals were reportedly handcuffed and taken to solitary confinement- this level of abuse and silencing is not just immoral, it’s torture. 

California City is complicit in these human rights violations, and the City Council must act immediately to end its relationship with CoreCivic, who are profiting from this cruelty. We are demanding immediate action from city council: 

Mandate CoreCivic halt their operations! 
Enforce Dignity Not Detention (SB29), which requires public input and 180-days’ notice and two-public hearings before any permit is approved for an immigration detention center. 
Require CoreCivic to apply for the proper permits and not bypass state and local laws with only a SPR 25-09 Minor business license.
Enforce all other state laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires California City to consider and disclose the potential environmental impact of CoreCivi’s facility before approving the permits.  
Bring this matter to the City Council and add it to the agenda so residents are informed about any communcations, negotiations and permit status. 
What: Rally outside of California City Hall and Public Comment during City Council Meeting 

When: 4:30pm- Rally, 5pm- City Council Meeting 

Where: California City City Hall, 21000 Hacienda Blvd, California City, CA 93505

Rosa Lopez, Senior Policy Advocate and Organizer with the ACLU SoCal, said: “It is time for California City representatives to do their job and put an end to CoreCivic’s illegal operations. Their unlawful operation is not only a moral failure, but it is a legal and ethical violation and California City leaders have the power and responsibility to hold them accountable, CoreCivic is not above the law..” 

Marcela Hernandez, Capacity Building Director at Detention Watch Network, said: “It is unacceptable that CoreCivic and ICE opened the California City ICE facility without the appropriate permits and we are now seeing the harm it is causing to community members detained at the facility including medical neglect, dirty drinking water and flooding in the facility. The conditions have been so bad that more than 100 people detained started to refuse meals and led a sit-up but instead of meeting their basic needs, CoreCivic guards met them with retaliation including sending many to solitary confinement which is considered torture internationally. We demand the California City Council take immediate action to mandate CoreCivic shut down operations due to improper permits, take a stance against this violent facility in their community and be transparent on any communities they have with CoreCivic and ICE.” 

Local communities loudly and firmly say: not with our tax dollars, and no detention in our communities! We are inviting the public to the California City council meeting on Tuesday, September 23rd at 5pm and a rally at 4:30pm.   

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