Activists and family members serenade immigrants at the ICE detention center in Adelanto.
Key Takeaways
- Community members, family and activists held a public serenade outside the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) processing center in Adelanto to show support for detainees.
- The action was organized by NDLON (National Day Laborer Organizing Network), the Pomona Day Laborer Center and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice; relatives of detainees attended and spoke.
- It has been reported that NDLON leaders allege about 50 deaths connected to U.S. immigrant detention; it has also been reported that activists link increased custody to DHS (Department of Homeland Security) enforcement actions.
- The Adelanto facility is operated by private contractor GEO Group and holds hundreds of people awaiting immigration hearings or deportation proceedings.
- Organizers urged Congress and the current administration to make immediate changes to protect detained immigrants; families were told to seek legal counsel and public oversight.
What happened
On the afternoon of March 14, community members — including family members of those detained, religious leaders and activists — gathered at 10400 Rancho Road in Adelanto for a serenade outside the ICE processing center there. The event was organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), the Centro de Trabajadores Jornaleros de Pomona and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice. Attendees carried banners and sang so people inside the facility could see and hear that they are not alone; one participant, Jax Santana, said she attended to support her father, who was arrested by ICE in November 2025.
Claims, facility background and legal context
NDLON co-executive director Pablo Alvarado told Univision and others that custody numbers have grown amid DHS enforcement and that, in his words, “about 50 people have died.” Because that figure is an allegation from activists and not an official ICE count, it should be treated as reported but not independently verified. Activists also alleged that some deaths resulted from neglect or mistreatment; those assertions have been reported and are driving calls for investigations and lawsuits. The Adelanto processing center is run by GEO Group, a private contractor, and is one of California’s largest immigrant detention sites, holding people who generally await immigration court hearings, bond determinations, or removal flights.
Human impact and what this means now
For people navigating the immigration system, the event highlights two realities: detention separates families and can delay access to counsel and hearings, and public pressure and legal action are common tools families and advocates use to seek oversight and care for detainees. ICE and DHS policies control custody and release decisions, while private operators like GEO Group run day-to-day operations — a structure that often complicates accountability. If you or a loved one is detained, consult an immigration attorney or local legal services immediately; keep records of arrests and health issues, and consider contacting advocacy groups that monitor detention conditions and can help escalate concerns to courts or Congress.
Source: Original Article