The California Department of Justice released a critical report late last month on the abusive conditions in the state’s immigrant jails and prisons, including those in Orange County.

It is the first report of its kind, mandated under Assembly Bill 103, a law that we at Freedom for Immigrants consulted on that gives the state Attorney General the power and resources to monitor immigrant jails and prisons over the next 10 years. The report is timely as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in United States v. California this week, in which the Trump administration is suing California over three state laws that protect immigrants’ rights, including the oversight provision in AB 103.

We knew that AB 103 was needed because, for years, Freedom for Immigrants and other advocacy groups have witnessed the suffering of thousands of immigrants locked up in a system that lacks meaningful oversight and transparency.

With the Attorney General’s extensive report, we now have further proof from an independent state monitor, showing that California’s immigrant jails and prisons are rife with abuse. And these systemic human and civil rights violations are happening right here in Orange County.

The Attorney General’s office comprehensively reviewed three of the state’s immigrant jails, among them Theo Lacy Facility, which is operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office has had an intergovernmental service agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain asylum seekers and longtime immigrants since 2010. During its investigation, the Attorney General documented the misuse of solitary confinement, misconduct by prison officials, and use of force among a myriad of other problems at Theo Lacy.

The report unequivocally states that “Theo Lacy’s use of disciplinary segregation for minor offenses is alarming.” In fact, during the Attorney General’s site visit, his office encountered the case of a man who was thrown into solitary confinement for 30 days without outdoor recreation. The reason for his confinement, “disrespect to staff,” did not warrant solitary confinement under ICE’s national detention standards. Although the OC Sheriff’s Office was in violation of the federal standards, it has faced no repercussions from ICE.

This man’s case was not isolated; as the state report found, it is a pattern at Theo Lacy, one which can no longer be overlooked.

Detention is already a restrictive environment. Subjecting a person to complete isolation is not only punitive, but also can have devastating physical and mental health consequences.

Detained individuals also reported being subjected to mistreatment by deputies. The report states that immigrants in detention consistently reported being mocked over their appearances or for not understanding English, yelled at or subjected to profane language, as well as roughed up by the deputies.

This is all in line with what we’ve been documenting for years.

In 2015, we filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of the Inspector General and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties detailing multiple incidents of physical assault and other human rights violations at Theo Lacy.

One of the detained individuals who bravely came forward back then was Jose Gudiño. He told us how he was walking back from the cafeteria when a deputy confronted him, accusing him of stashing food under his clothing. The deputy proceeded to beat him up and ended by threatening him, telling him not to file a complaint. Afterward, Mr. Gudiño was unable to walk for a month.

The state report provides several similar stories of deputies behaving brutally, as reported by detained individuals, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra stated that his office would continue to investigate.

Unfortunately, oversight, while critical, isn’t enough.

Related Articles Orange County Register endorsements for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election

Constant exemptions are a lousy way to make law

Bad policies fuel fires: John Stossel

The passing of an icon of the Supreme Court and the tumultuous times ahead

Newsom should sign bill granting civilian oversight of sheriff’s departments There have been several other recent reports detailing the deplorable conditions in Theo Lacy and other Orange County jails, including by the DHS Office of the Inspector General and the American Civil Liberties Union.

It’s time to move beyond oversight and take action.

There needs to be accountability. Otherwise ICE and the OC Sheriff’s office will continue to act with impunity at the expense of hundreds of immigrants in Orange County who are forced into cages simply to await their legal proceedings. We must put an end to this system that weaponizes our taxpayer money to fuel a culture of violence.

This report should spark the beginning of a larger conversation in Orange County and the state of California about what we can do to end the mass incarceration of immigrants so not one more individual is subjected to such abuse in our backyard with our tax dollars.

Christina Fialho is an attorney and the Co-Founder/Executive Director of Freedom for Immigrants, a California-based nonprofit working to abolish immigration detention.