Immigration detention center expands in Southern California


By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - Immigration authorities are expanding a Southern California detention facility to get more bed space for women with criminal records, immigrants with medical needs, recently-arrived asylum seekers and other detainees.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is getting an additional 640 detention beds at a privately-contracted facility in Adelanto starting in July, raising the total number of beds to 1,940.

ICE officials say the move helps consolidate detention space as beds are expensive and hard to find in cities like San Francisco. ICE officials say most detainees there have criminal records.

Immigrant advocates say the expansion of the facility run by GEO Group clashes with Obama administration policies aimed at detaining fewer immigrants. They also questioned the quality of medical care at the center northeast of Los Angeles.

GEO officials declined comment.

http://www.ksby.com/story/29462511/i...ern-california