Immigration Authorities Add 1,300 Beds For Southland Detainees

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Immigration authorities will add another 1,300 beds to detain suspected illegal immigrants in Southern California.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday announced an agreement for a facility in the city of Adelanto to create more bed space in a region where a substantial number of immigrants are detained.

The city is partnering with Boca Raton, Fla.-based The GEO Group to oversee the facility.

Immigration authorities have been expanding detention space in Southern California. Last year, authorities inked an agreement with Orange County to start using roughly 830 beds that were previously used by inmates in the county jails.

Immigration authorities say they are trying to cut down on transfers of detainees, which have been criticized by advocates trying to represent the immigrants in court.

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