Washington, DC–Due to an order from the Central District of California, and despite requests to transfer detainees to alternative locations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has complied with the mandated reduction to the overall detainee population at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, California, which has resulted in the release of dangerous criminal aliens into various communities.
Pursuant to the court’s order, Adelanto, which is maintained by a federal contractor, released more than 250 criminal aliens back into communities – a decision the agency continues to warn could lead to unnecessary victimization by recidivist criminals. The forced reduction is now complete and the current population at the facility is approximately 465.
“While opponents who continuously seek to discredit the agency might otherwise mislead the public to believe that those in detention pose no risk to public safety, nothing could be further from the truth,” said ICE’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony H. Pham. “ICE has complied with this overreaching court order; however, the public should know that the ruling undoubtedly places them at greater risk.”
Prior to the reduction, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles assessed that among the roughly 730 aliens detained at Adelanto, more than 85 percent had pending criminal charges and/or convictions. Among those ordered released, more than 60 had final orders of removal by federal immigration judges. The criminal histories of those released included, but was not limited to: assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child cruelty, contempt/violating a protected order, domestic violence, disorderly conduct, driving without a license, driving under the influence (DUI), false imprisonment, fraud, hit and run, grand theft, obstructing a police officer, possession of a controlled substance, prostitution, sexual offenses (including lewd/lascivious acts with a child), weapons violations, and the federal offense of illegal reentry after removal.
