At least 20 immigrants detained at the Desert View Annex in Adelanto, California, have begun a hunger strike to protest substandard living conditions.

The strike, organized by a coalition of immigrant rights groups including the Defend Migrants Alliance of Southern California, calls attention to mold, unsafe drinking water, delayed medical care, and reduced food portions that force detainees to buy costly commissary items.

The annex, which holds over 400 detainees despite a 750-bed capacity, is adjacent to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, where four detainees have died since its reopening.

Family members and attorneys have reported that medical requests are often ignored or minimally addressed, with detainees receiving basic over-the-counter remedies instead of proper care.Geo Group Inc.

, the private company managing the facility, maintains that its operations comply with federal detention standards monitored by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

This strike highlights ongoing scrutiny over private detention centers, as previous lawsuits and state reports have documented deteriorating conditions, insufficient nutrition, and neglect of chronic health needs.The protest also includes an economic boycott of the facility’s commissary.

California law mandates inspection and reporting of detention conditions, but recent reports suggest conditions at such centers continue to worsen, raising concerns about detainee safety and human rights.