California's largest immigration detention centre has failed to comply with a judge's orders to provide adequate healthcare, a court-appointed monitor has found. The California City detention centre was struggling to meet a wide range of medical standards, according to the monitor.
Major flaws in care were identified, including significant gaps in emergency services, failures to provide medications promptly, inadequate health screenings, and a lack of accommodations for people with disabilities. Dr Muthusamy Anandkumar, the monitor, stated in a report filed with the court on Monday that the facility was out of compliance with all eight areas outlined by a federal judge.
The judge had ordered the inquiry in February following a lawsuit alleging medical neglect. Dr Anandkumar, a physician who has previously audited ICE detention centres, concluded that the facility "lacks a reliable system to consistently provide adequate health care, placing individuals at serious risk of both immediate and long-term harm."
The monitor's report was based on a review of 141 medical records, a three-day site visit in May, and interviews with 40 patients and staff. Staff shortages were noted as severe, with some staff moved to clinical duties before completing orientation and untrained staff tasked with training others.