Public safety & negligenceHealth & social servicesCourts & justice

A federal judge ordered improvements at the Adelanto ICE detention center after finding detainees likely to prove conditions violate the Constitution

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesUnited States · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

The GEO Group, Inc.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Also named

Oversight

Sunshine Sykes, U.S. District Judge, Central District of California

Advocate

Public Counsel

What happened

In a July 16, 2026 preliminary injunction in L.T. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes (C.D. Cal.) found detainees at the GEO Group-operated Adelanto ICE Processing Center likely to prevail on claims that conditions violate the Fifth Amendment. The court provisionally certified an 'Adelanto Class' and a 'Disability Subclass' and ordered 24-hour access to clean drinking water, adequate meals, daily cleaning and mold removal, temperature-appropriate clothing, and daily outdoor recreation. It required the government to file a medical-care and disability plan within 14 days and appointed two independent monitors conducting unannounced inspections. CalMatters reports that DHS argued it could not be held liable for its contractor, GEO Group. This is a preliminary ruling; the case continues.

Sources (3)

Public Counsel (case announcement quoting the court's ruling)detainees demonstrated they are likely to prevail on their claims that conditions violate Fifth Amendment protections

CalMattersjudge demands immigrants at Adelanto get clean water and medical care

migrantinsider.comDHS loses bid to dodge blame for dangerous conditions at Adelanto

Response

The GEO Group, Inc.

Not yet contacted

Not yet contacted for this story.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

I saw an update

Take action →