The California City Detention Center, the largest immigration detention center in the state, must provide clothing and blankets at no cost to detainees amid the cold snap in the United States, a court ruled as part of a lawsuit.
The collective ruling applies to the more than 1,000 people currently incarcerated in the facility, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said Tuesday.
Free blankets for migrants in California
These are exactly the concerns that @SenAdamSchiff and I heard about during our visit to California City Detention Facility last month.
Thanks to the @ACLU and the brave plaintiffs who shared their stories we’ve made a step in the right direction, but conditions should have… pic.twitter.com/ZSkick4fLY
– Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) February 11, 2026
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been under scrutiny because of that facility located in the California city in the Mojave Desert, an area that experiences extreme temperatures.
The detained immigrants sued ICE requesting basic health care, among other rights protected by U.S. law.
In response, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction to improve certain conditions, including access to blankets and adequate clothing to withstand the cold winter temperatures.
A widespread complaint of detainees in immigration detention centers is the temperature of the “hieleras” as the cells are known.
The court order also requires that detainees be given access to emergency services, specialists and prescription drugs, and directs it to provide access to a court-appointed monitor to ensure compliance with these provisions.
“Today’s ruling represents a major victory for immigrant rights and rightly confirms that ICE’s conduct at the California City Detention Center is inhumane, dangerous, and a direct violation of the Constitution,” stated Kyle Virgien, senior counsel for the ACLU.
Filed under: Free blankets for migrants
With information from EFE
