Civil organizations, religious leaders, and human rights activists protested this week at the ICE detention center in Adelanto, California.
The demonstrations highlight a growing crisis regarding the treatment of detainees in U.S. federal custody. Advocates argue that systemic failures in medical care and institutional racism have created an environment of abuse that requires immediate judicial intervention.
During the protests, activists performed a simulation of deaths to draw attention to the conditions inside the facility. They are demanding an end to discrimination, poor nutrition, and the lack of adequate medical attention for those held at the center [1], [2].
Inside the facility, approximately 20 detainees have been on a hunger strike [1]. This strike began on May 20, 2026 [1]. The hunger strikers are protesting against institutional racism and the lack of health services, as well as reprisals against those who voice complaints [1], [2].
Organizers said that the conditions at the Adelanto center are unacceptable. They are calling for a court order to ensure the safety and dignity of the detainees, citing a pattern of negligence and abuse [2]. The group emphasized that the hunger strike is a last-resort measure to force the administration to address the lack of basic human rights within the walls of the facility.
Religious leaders joined the activists to call for compassion and legal oversight. They said the facility must stop the practice of retaliating against inmates who protest their treatment [1]. The protesters remained outside the center to ensure the public and the government are aware of the ongoing hunger strike and the deteriorating health of the participants [1], [2].
“Approximately 20 detainees have been on a hunger strike since May 20, 2026.”
The escalation from internal hunger strikes to public simulations of death indicates a breakdown in communication between detainees and ICE administration. By involving religious leaders and seeking judicial orders, advocates are attempting to move the issue from an administrative complaint to a legal human rights violation, which could trigger federal oversight of the Adelanto facility.
