Detainees hunger strike at Adelanto ICE facility over conditions, deaths, and inadequate care
May 26, 2026·Location: Adelanto, CA
Country of origin: El Salvador

At least 20 detainees at Desert View Annex (Adelanto ICE Processing Center) in Adelanto, California, launched a hunger strike in mid-May 2026 to protest inadequate health care, food portions, unsafe conditions, and demand bond reform and accountability. The facility, operated by the GEO Group, experienced four deaths between September 2025 and March 2026. A lawyer with the National Day Labor Organization described the hunger strike as a last resort when other options have been exhausted. One detainee's wife spoke publicly about the inhumane treatment at the facility. The facility's population increased dramatically from 424 detainees in 2023 to 2,087 in 2025.
Timeline
Sources
- Immigrants launch hunger strike at Adelanto detention center
LAist·May 20, 2026·archived copy
- Immigrants held at ‘inhumane’ California ICE facility start hunger strike
missionlocal.org·May 20, 2026·archived copy
- Hunger Strikers Protest Conditions at Adelanto ICE Detention Center
americancommunitymedia.org·May 22, 2026·archived copy
- Advocates say detainees in L.A.-area ICE processing center begin hunger strike
- Over 60 ICE Detainees On Hunger Strike At SoCal Facilities: Reports
patch.com·May 21, 2026·archived copy
- ICE detainees stage hunger strike over conditions at California facility
usa.inquirer.net·May 28, 2026·archived copy
- Hundreds of ICE detainees on hunger strike over detention center conditions across US
independent.co.uk·May 25, 2026·archived copy
- Hunger Strikers at Adelanto ICE Prison Speak Out on Retaliation, Medical Neglect, and Inhumane Conditions
immdef.org·Jun 3, 2026·archived copy
- Reps. Aguilar, Chu and Gomez Visit Hunger Strikers at Adelanto ICE Detention Center, Renew Calls for Facility Closure – Pete Aguilar
More incidents in California
- Irvine special education teacher detained at LAX, transferred to Adelanto ICE facilityOct 6, 2026 · Los Angeles, CA
- Former DACA recipient dies of sepsis after Adelanto ICE staff ignored infection, family suesOct 3, 2026 · Adelanto, CA
- Senator tours SFO airport holding room, cites prolonged ICE detentionsOct 1, 2026 · San Francisco, CA
- Mexican man captured by drone-tracking agents in Buena Park fraud sweepOct 1, 2026 · Buena Park, CA
- Irish man detained at airport deported to UK before bond hearingSep 30, 2026 · San Jose, CA
- Ghanaian respiratory therapist chained and detained at SFO gate over visa overstaySep 30, 2026 · San Francisco, CA