Challenging Medical Care and Mental Health in Detention Centers
In 2019, Xiaoman Ding received a diagnosis of a pituitary tumor that resulted in severe headaches, sometimes rendering her unable to see or walk. While seeking medical treatment, she faced legal troubles, being arrested in the Santa Ana immigration court last June and subsequently detained at the Adelanto ICE processing center. During her confinement, she was given only Tylenol and ibuprofen, instead of her necessary medications for symptom management.
By July, Ding described her pain as “unbearable.” In a complaint to a nurse at the detention center, she expressed suicidal thoughts and was then placed in solitary confinement for three days for observation. In her court documents, which form part of a federal lawsuit filed in January seeking better conditions at the facility, she stated, “I did not tell anyone that I was experiencing suicidal thoughts again,” fearing further isolation.
The case is ongoing, with the next public hearing set for late May. Accompanying the lawsuit are testimonies from detainees who have recounted their experiences in isolation. Many reported being placed in solitary confinement under circumstances that challenged their dignity or while pursuing legal challenges. Such experiences have deterred them from seeking help in the future.
Increasing Isolation in Immigration Facilities
Immigration detention centers across the United States, such as Adelanto, are reportedly holding more individuals in solitary confinement than ever before, surpassing figures from prior administrations, including President Trump’s first term. Data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveals prolonged periods of isolation for detainees, raising concerns among experts who argue that solitary confinement can exacerbate existing health issues.
Detainees may be subjected to “segregation” for various reasons: disciplinary issues, perceived threats to themselves or others, being on suicide watch, or suffering from significant mental or physical health issues. Advocates emphasize that segregation is also frequently used as a punitive measure in civil detention. Katherine Peeler, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and consultant for Physicians for Human Rights, noted that the thresholds for placing someone in isolation can often be arbitrary and disproportionately low.
Currently, approximately 2,000 immigrants are housed at the Adelanto Detention Center, located about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles. An analysis of the latest ICE data indicates that Adelanto ranks among the top 10 facilities in the nation in terms of the percentage of detainees in isolation.
Racism’s Impact on Health Care Access
To grasp the experiences of immigrant detainees in isolation, Peeler urges the public to visualize confinement within a small cell, likening it to being trapped in a parking space indefinitely. This lack of control over one’s environment and social interaction can lead to severe anxiety, depression, and even hallucinations, as documented in medical literature. Prolonged isolation has been associated with cognitive decline and increased psychological distress.
Between April 2024 and May 2025, more than 10,500 individuals were placed in solitary confinement in ICE detention centers for extended periods. Physicians for Human Rights assert that the United Nations classifies continued solitary confinement as a form of torture, although the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled such isolation is permissible. ICE maintains policies that require meticulous review of decisions involving extended segregation, particularly beyond 14 days.
Conditions in the Adelanto Detention Center
Disability Rights California, a nonprofit that advocates for individuals with disabilities and monitors detention conditions, found significant deficiencies at the Adelanto facility. Richard Diaz, a senior attorney at the organization, noted a lack of accommodations for detainees with disabilities, many of whom reported prolonged solitary confinement and unmet medical needs. Experts have highlighted that solitary confinement can lead to severe sleep disorders and heightened stress levels, which can exacerbate existing health problems.
The federal government has rebuffed claims of substandard conditions in immigrant detention centers. In a recent statement responding to reports of detainee deaths, ICE stressed its commitment to providing a safe and humane environment. Meanwhile, the GEO Group, the private operator of the Adelanto facility, ensures that its operations adhere to ICE standards and claims to address any operational issues promptly.
Detainee Perspectives on Life in Isolation
Detainees at Adelanto recount experiences that starkly contrast with official narratives. A coalition of immigrant rights groups and a private law firm have filed a federal lawsuit demanding improved conditions at the facility. Multiple detainees, besides those facing mental health crises, described isolation as a punitive measure. Andrei Karamichev, a Russian immigrant who entered the U.S. in 1999, highlighted his frustrations at being ignored for two months after his arrival, despite asking for updates about his case.
Karamichev noted that detainees who voiced concerns were often met with retribution, recalling that several individuals who protested were placed in solitary confinement after facing security intervention. He described his time in isolation as being confined to a small space for nearly 24 hours a day with only limited time outside.
Another detainee, Julius Omene Frierich from Nigeria, reported inadequate facilities, noting that his unit had only six showers available for 80 people, lacking privacy. He faced solitary confinement after requesting curtains for privacy while showering. Furthermore, access to legal resources is severely restricted, as only a fraction of detainees can visit the law library each day, exacerbating the challenges they face in navigating their immigration cases.
The pressure to return home is palpable, as detainees often encounter posters promoting “voluntary removal,” which offer financial incentives for those willing to leave the U.S. Many who arrive with resolve find their decisions shifting under the oppressive conditions at Adelanto, sometimes choosing to abandon their cases and return home.
