Biden Administration Settles Lawsuit to Reopen ICE Facility

The Biden administration has settled a lawsuit permitting the reopening of the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California, which had been closed since 2020 amid allegations of toxic chemical use and civil rights violations, with nearly a dozen detainee deaths reported from 2011 to 2020. The settlement follows a motion by the Department of Justice to lift a COVID-19-related intake ban that had halted new detainee admissions due to a class-action lawsuit. Currently, the facility, which can house nearly 2,000 people, has only three detainees, reflecting its near-empty status since the 2020 closure. Critics, including immigration lawyers, view the settlement as facilitating the potential implementation of former President Trump's mass deportation agenda. The agreement has sparked backlash, with opponents arguing it undermines Biden's immigration legacy and could exacerbate issues related to illegal immigration. The settlement is still pending judicial approval before it becomes official.