Is California’s Largest ICE Detention Center Operating Legally?
We talk about the ICE detention facility in California City.
October 6, 2025
55 min
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3,027 of 3,393
October 6, 2025
Is California’s Largest ICE Detention Center Operating Legally?
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Episode 3,027 of 3,393 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
Is California’s Largest ICE Detention Center Operating Legally?
Summary
California City in Kern county is now home to the state’s largest ICE detention facility after private prison giant CoreCivic formally contracted to run it last month. But immigrant rights advocates say it lacks proper permits, and detainees have staged hunger strikes to protest filthy conditions and lack of access to medical care. Meanwhile, California City officials say they have no authority to challenge prison operations. We talk about how it’s dividing the community.
Guests:
Tyche Hendricks, senior editor covering immigration, KQED
Sam Levin, senior criminal justice reporter, the Guardian US
Marquette Hawkins, mayor, California City
Vikram Amar, professor of law, UC Davis School of Law
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