Credit: Office of Rep. Jay Obernolte
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte’s (R-CA) congressional district should be fully utilized to house individuals detained for immigration proceedings, the congressman said.
The Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Rep. Obernolte’s 23rd Congressional District is fully funded through Dec. 19, 2034, and is currently using only eight out of 1,940 available placements despite the influx of migrants, according to an Oct. 3 letter the lawmaker sent to ICE Acting Director Patrick Lechleitner.
The Adelanto ICE Processing Center has sat nearly empty since a preliminary injunction order was issued by a California court in September 2020, implementing an absolute prohibition on intakes and transfers at the Adelanto facility due to the COVID-19 national emergency.
Rep. Obernolte requested that ICE seek relief from the judge’s order and called on ICE to properly utilize those beds to detain criminal aliens and other individuals subject to mandatory detention, and to help relieve pressure on other overwhelmed U.S. Border Patrol facilities, according to his letter.
“I am deeply concerned about recent media reports that ICE is releasing illegal immigrants into communities across the U.S. using the justification of limited space in detention facilities,” Rep. Obernolte wrote. “I am particularly baffled by this situation because the Adelanto ICE Processing Center was specifically designed to house 1,932 additional detainees.
“Even more perplexing is the fact that the COVID-19 national emergency… was declared ended by President Joe Biden on May 11,” wrote the congressman. “ICE has spent the four months since adhering to outdated policies while there is substantial nationwide demand for more detention capability.”
Rep. Obernolte pointed out that the underutilization of the Adelanto facility has come at “a great expense” to the U.S. taxpayer, and said the “entirely avoidable” situation now must be corrected.
“Therefore, I call on you to instruct the Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation, which is litigating this matter for ICE, to advise the Ninth Circuit and District Court that while mediation efforts are underway… the intake prohibition should be lifted as mediation efforts continue,” wrote Rep. Obernolte. “It is my hope that you seriously consider and pursue all available avenues to allow our government to fully utilize the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.”