Los Angeles, CA — Disability Rights California (DRC) and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ) will host a press conference to call attention to the abuse of people with disabilities at the Adelanto ICE Detention Facility that are outlined in DRC’s alarming report “They Treat Us Like Dogs in Cages.” There will be remarks from Congresswoman Judy Chu, an expert from DRC’s Investigations Team who helped create the report, and an IC4IJ member who works to connect people inside Adelanto to resources.

The Adelanto ICE Detention Facility has long been the subject of scrutiny and concern, which has only increased since the facility dramatically increased the number of people being held there earlier this year. Adelanto sits at the crucial intersection of disability rights and immigrant rights, two issues that are inextricably linked.

As California's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency (P&A,) DRC has a unique authority to enter locked facilities, giving DRC a rare and crucial capacity to uncover conditions faced by people with disabilities in those settings. In touring the facility, DRC found disturbing conditions, including a lack of basic needs like adequate food, safe water, and lack of access to appropriate medical and mental health care. The lack of these necessities led DRC to find that the conditions in Adelanto amount to the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities.

DRC’s report gives further strong evidence supporting IC4IJ and the partner coalition’s demand to shut down the Adelanto ICE Detention Facility. Together, DRC and IC4IJ will speak in a united voice against the harms perpetrated at Adelanto.

• WHEN: Thursday, August 14 at 10 a.m. PST
• WHERE: Edward R. Roybal Federal Building Courtyard, 255 E Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
• WHO: Rep. Judy Chu, Disability Rights California, and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice

Media Contacts

Sam Mickens
Communications Director
Disability Rights California
sam.mickens@disabilityrightsca.org
(646) 945-0918

Tamara Marquez
Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice
tamara@ic4ij.org
(562) 212-2664

Disability Rights California (DRC), Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of DRC is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. For more information visit: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org.

Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ), is composed of over 35 organizations that serve the immigrant community in the Inland Empire. Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice currently focuses on advocacy, changing the narrative, and capacity building. Our coalition engages in policy advocacy, community organizing and education, and rapid response to ICE and border patrol operations. We are collectively changing the narrative of the one million immigrants who live, thrive, and are a foundational part of the fabric of the IE.