Kern County attempts to build detention center

Organizations have spoken out against the construction of a new immigration detention center in Kern County, California. The company behind the project is CoreCivic, one of the largest private prison and detention center companies, which has a contract with ICE for this project. However, activists warn that the relative isolation of the center could make it more difficult to monitor what happens within the walls of the detention center due to its location.

Daniela Rodríguez, a UC Berkeley intern and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, has the details on this issue.

Kern County could soon be home to ICE’s largest detention center in California. In April, ICE awarded a $10 million contract to the multimillion-dollar company CoreCivic to establish a detention center on the site of the former California City Prison, according to federal contract records.

In response, organizations such as the Dolores Huerta Foundation and local residents are mobilizing to express their concern and oppose the plan. Victor Gutierrez Hernandez, immigration organizer for the foundation, explains why they oppose this potential new detention center.

“The increased presence of Homeland Security and ICE in California City would create a lot of fear and tension for immigrant families. People might stop going to school, work, or even going into town.”

CoreCivic is one of the largest private prison companies in the United States. Victor points out that in addition to the fear that ICE’s presence will generate among immigrant families, the company has faced allegations of labor abuses and violent conditions within its facilities.

“Including violence toward workers, for example: not paying overtime, not paying on time.”

In addition, Victor points out that CoreCivic has faced lawsuits for alleged violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), accused of forcing detainees to work against their will.

“That law is specifically designed to protect people and prevent forced labor.”

He adds that there is no transparency on the part of CoreCivic and that in the past, serious consequences have already been seen in other immigration detention centers operated by CoreCivic. One example is what happened in Cibola County, New Mexico, where he says there was a case of suicide and the death of a transgender woman.

“The community was left with debts and a lot of trauma, and they didn’t take responsibility.”

And it’s not surprising that CoreCivic chose California City for its detention center, as it is a small, rural community with serious economic difficulties, as Victor explains.

“These prison corporations have already been looking for places where governments are willing to try out their facilities because of the economic promises. Unfortunately, this is a common pattern, as has happened on many occasions. Companies such as CoreCivic and GEO Group have approached towns with economic difficulties. In addition, Cal City’s geographical location may be strategic. The city is close to Los Angeles, it’s in the middle of nowhere, honestly, and it can be a spot that isn’t very noticeable when they operate.”

The immigration organizer for the Dolores Huerta Foundation uses the example of McFarland, where another private prison company, GEO Group, opened a detention center, without the city seeing any economic progress to date.

“Instead, it only faced financial instability and had to approve sales taxes just to maintain basic services.”

California City Mayor Marquette Hawkins informed Radio Bilingüe by email that the decision on the detention center is made at the federal level, and neither he nor the city council has the authority to approve or stop it. He told ABC News that they are finalizing water and sewer agreements with CoreCivic and will provide what is necessary for its opening. Meanwhile, the Dolores Huerta Foundation remains vigilant.

“We will continue to share our concerns at city council meetings and take new actions. We have a petition that shows the communities are against CoreCivic.”

Organizers and local residents continue to mobilize against this facility through protests and community forums. And it was recently reported that the former Kern County prison has already installed a new sign with the name “California City Immigration Processing Center.”

Daniela Rodríguez is a UC Berkeley fellow and reporter for Radio Bilingüe.