BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Supervisor Leticia Perez emphasized the need for clarity regarding the county’s role in overseeing private ICE detention facilities, citing confusion among the public.
“I think it behooves us to get some clarity about what we can and cannot do,” Perez said, referencing Senate Bill 1132, which grants local health departments the authority to investigate these facilities for public health concerns.
District 3 Supervisor Jeff Flores expressed the board’s concerns, noting that the county typically does not conduct such reviews.
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“So why all this juncture all of a sudden. When would the county go in and do this when we’ve never done this before?” Flores said.
He added, “It’s my understanding that we have no oversight over these privately contracted prisons with the federal government.”
Flores pointed out that there are nine entities with effective oversight, including the ICE Office of Detention Oversight, the ICE Office of Professional Oversight, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, DHS Office of Inspector General, DHS Office of Immigration Detention, the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Board of State & Community Corrections, the state attorney general and Congress.
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He stated that the board prefers to focus on local public health priorities, such as addressing homeless encampments and illegal food stalls.
Despite this, Flores assured that public complaints about local ICE facilities would not be ignored.
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“We’re going to pass along the concerns that we’ve received here at the county. We’re going to send them to the proper authorities that do have jurisdiction,” he said, adding that the board seeks legal clarification on the county’s capabilities.