Hunger Strikers in Adelanto ICE Jail Moved to Solitary After Meeting Congressmen |
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Three hunger strikers at an immigration jail in Adelanto, California, have been moved to solitary confinement in an act of apparent retaliation after meeting with members of Congress last week.
Last Monday, California Reps. Judy Chu, Jimmy Gomez, and Pete Aguilar visited Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center as the hunger strike in the immigration jail entered its second week. The Democrats met with three of the hunger strikers, who gave them a petition, signed by some 150 people inside the facility, speaking of inhumane conditions inside the jail and degrading treatment by staff. The Adelanto ICE jail is run by private prison company GEO Group.
The next day, GEO Group staff entered a unit “in riot gear holding pepper spray, tear gas canisters and zip ties,” and removed two of the people who had met with congressional staff the day before. And on Wednesday, they removed the third person, according to other detainees.
Detainees also said that at least two units were put on lockdown for around 24 hours starting on Tuesday.
One hunger striker said that a GEO Group staff member told his unit, “Can you guys do me a favor and stop lying to these........