Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Adelanto Has Largest Current COVID-19 Outbreak Among ICE Detention Centers In the Country
()
The coronavirus outbreak at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County has continued to grow. As of this morning there were 147 immigrant detainees being monitored or in isolation with COVID-19, all of them having tested positive.
The outbreak is now the largest active outbreak among immigration detention centers across the country, according to data posted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facility currently holds about 750 people, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.
Between Sept. 14 and last Tuesday afternoon, 16 Adelanto detainees had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 related reasons, according to a court filing by Gabriel Valdez, assistant field office director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Los Angeles. Eleven of those detainees have been discharged from the hospital.
Support for LAist comes from
Thirty-one staff members had also tested positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday, but none had been hospitalized, Valdez said.
In April, the ACLU sued the federal government to reduce the population at the detention center to allow for social distancing. The case had been pending in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but was sent back to the lower court amid the growing outbreak.
On Sept. 29, U.S. District Court Judge Terry J. Hatter ordered ICE to not accept any new or transferred detainees at the facility.
Hatter also ordered the government to test all detainees who agree to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, and to submit a population reduction plan for the facility.
According to the Judge’s order, the outbreak likely started in early September, and medical experts in the case believe the outbreak was “most likely” caused by a staff member who went into work at Adelanto with a COVID-19 infection.
But because contact tracing hadn’t been complete, the source of the outbreak hasn’t been identified yet, Judge Hatter wrote.
ICE detention centers around the country have been hit hard by COVID-19. In May, a 57-year-old man from El Salvador held at a detention center in San Diego became the first ICE detainee to die from the virus.
Support for LAist comes from
READ MORE:
- There's a COVID-19 Outbreak At ICE's Adelanto Detention Center
- 'You Can Either Be A Survivor Or Die': COVID-19 Cases Surge In ICE Detention
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist