ICE Detention Facility Inspection Grades Rose Amidst Increased Deaths, Report Finds
A report by the Project on Government Oversight found that under the Trump administration, ICE detention facilities in Los Angeles and across the country received a tripling of their highest inspection grades ("superior") even as deaths within these facilities increased.…
Los Angeles, CA, August 18, 2026 —
A report released by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) indicates a significant rise in the highest inspection grades awarded to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities during the Trump administration, a period that also saw an increase in deaths within these facilities. The report highlights that these facilities, including those in the Los Angeles area and nationwide, experienced a tripling of their “superior” inspection grades.
This trend in improved inspection scores coincided with a weakening of detention standards and a reduction in the frequency of inspections. The POGO report found that despite numerous complaints lodged against these facilities, particularly concerning healthcare services and slow response times, they rarely received failing grades.
The Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California was identified as the facility with the highest number of reported deaths nationally within a recent period. The report suggests a correlation between the elevated inspection grades and the administration’s approach to detention oversight, which included less rigorous standards and fewer oversight checks.
Further details regarding the specific timeline of weakened detention standards and the exact number of inspections conducted were not provided in the summary. The names of the specific officials or the precise period of the Trump administration under review were also not detailed. The report did not specify the exact number of deaths recorded or the grading scale used for inspections beyond the “superior” designation.
Story summarized from the original created by Nigel Duara | CalMatters on laist.com, see more information here.
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