Courtesy KQED
CALIFORNIA CITY, CA (KUZZ) — The eastern Kern community of California City is facing pressure from the state over a controversial immigration detention center.
Attorney General Rob Bonta has urged city leaders to reject CoreCivic’s appeals for a business license and site plan approval for the facility on Virginia Boulevard.
State officials say the center has operated without proper city authorization since accepting detainees in August 2025.
The Department of Justice has also cited concerns including inadequate medical care, staffing shortages, poor recordkeeping, and unsanitary conditions.
Bonta is also calling on the city to hold public hearings before making a final decision.
The center in California City is the largest immigration detention facility in California.
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