Detainee with stomach ulcer denied medication, forced hunger strike at California City ICE facility
Sep 18, 2025·Location: California City, CA

Karam, a detainee with a chronic stomach ulcer, was transferred from Mesa Verde ICE facility to the California City ICE Detention Facility in late August 2025. Despite informing intake staff of his ulcer, prescribed liquid diet, and daily medications, he received no medication during his first 24 hours and subsequently received wrong pills infrequently. As his health declined, he began a hunger strike on September 18th. By September 22nd he was vomiting blood; he fainted the next day, triggering a medical emergency. Staff conditioned his medication on ending the strike. After ending the strike, he was told to "go back" to his country for medical care and has not received proper treatment. Three months later, his condition has worsened with mouth ulcers, continued blood vomiting, and blood in stool. He has gone on three additional hunger strikes since September.
Sources
- The Cruel Conditions of ICE’s Mojave Desert Detention Center
The New Yorker·Jan 28, 2026·archived copy
- desertsun.com
- Immigrants Detained by ICE Sue Immigration Detention Center for Medical Neglect and Other Conditions
aclu-in.org·Dec 19, 2025·archived copy
- Federal lawsuit alleges inhumane conditions at Adelanto ICE Processing Center
abc7.com·Jan 27, 2026·archived copy
- Judge Orders ICE to Provide Medical Care in Largest Immigration Jail in California
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