U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has entered into long-term contracts worth billions of dollars with for-profit prison companies to operate four private immigration detention centers in California. The move comes two weeks before a new state law is set to take effect, phasing out the use of private, for-profit prisons and immigration detention centers.

The contracts cap a contentious, two-month struggle between ICE and state leaders. California’s Congressional delegation, other lawmakers and immigration advocates have slammed the agency for potentially violating federal procurement law in an attempt to lock in long-term contracts for the state’s existing private detention centers before AB 32 takes effect in January.

The contract announcements, posted on a federal website, only say the awards are for four detention centers in ICE’s Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego areas of responsibility.

However, the awards likely refer to the four existing private detention centers in the state: The Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, operated by GEO Group; the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, also run by GEO; the Otay Mesa Detention Center, run by CoreCivic, and the Imperial Regional Detention Center, run by Management and Training Corp.

Here's what we know about the contracts:

Two 15-year contracts, worth a combined $3.7 billion with GEO Group for facilities in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, are likely for the company's Adelanto and Mesa Verde facilities. The announcement describes the contracts as being for “housekeeping-guard” and “security guards and patrol services.”

A 15-year contract, worth $679 million with Management and Training Corp. to provide guard services at a detention center in the San Diego area, is likely for the Imperial Regional Detention Facility.

A five-year contract, worth $2.1 billion with CoreCivic to provide guard services at a private immigration detention center in the San Diego area, is likely for Otay Mesa.

All four contracts are in effect as of Friday, Dec. 20.

A USA TODAY Network investigation of the rapidly growing network of detention centers used by ICE revealed more than 400 allegations of sexual assault or abuse; inadequate medical care; regular hunger strikes; frequent use of solitary confinement; more than 800 instances of physical forces against detainees; nearly 20,000 grievances field by detainees; and at least 29 fatalities, including seven suicides, since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017 and launched an overhaul of U.S. immigration policies.

U.S. Rep. Norma Torres, a California Democrat whose district extends from Pomona to Rialto, cited the private detention facilities' shoddy record on health and human safety, calling ICE's move "extremely disappointing" and a "slap in the face" to California law.

"These for-profit organizations have shown that they are not worthy of taxpayer dollars," Torres said. "For us to engage in these contracts with these organizations, without holding them accountable, is really a telling story of what this administration is all about."

State Assemblymember Rob Bonta, a Democrat who represents Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro and authored AB 32, said it’s “shocking… but not a surprise” that ICE made an “end run” around the state law by rushing to ink contracts with the for-profit companies that operate the existing detention centers. He called for a strong response from leaders at the state and federal level.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra “care about this issue deeply,” he said, adding, "I'm aware that it’s on their radars.”

Bonta said he would like to see Congress hold hearings focused on ICE’s solicitation process, which he called a “charade.” Legal action and public pressure, he said, have also proven to be effective in forcing immigration-related policy change.

“They violated a bunch of federal laws,” he said. “There has to be consequences and accountability.”

“The fight goes on,” he said.

A rush to circumvent state law?

The battle over private detention centers began when Newsom signed AB 32 on Oct. 11.

The state law generally prohibits the private operation of immigration detention facilities in California beginning in 2020. But the legislation makes some exceptions: It allows for the operation of a private detention facility that has a valid contract with a government entity, as long as the contract was in effect before Jan. 1. The law says operation can continue for the duration of the contract but prohibits extensions.

Five days after Newsom signed the bill, ICE posted its solicitation for private detention centers in California. The solicitation appeared to be crafted for the operators of the four existing facilities. It said the facilities should be “turn-key ready” and “proposals for new construction will not be accepted.” It also said the contracts would last five years, with the option of two five-year renewals.

At that time, Bonta said federal officials were trying to circumvent AB 32. “They are trying to circumvent the will of the people of California, as spoken through their legislators and their governor,” Bonta said.

But David Marin, Los Angeles field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, said the solicitation was not a response to AB 32.

“Those contracts were up,” he said during a Dec. 3 interview with The Desert Sun. “We are just looking to secure our need for beds here in California, because there is a definite need for beds here in California.”

Asked whether ICE was trying to secure contracts for the existing private detention centers before AB 32 takes effect, Marin said: “That was not the intent. I think that’s just speculation.”

Immigrant advocates call for 'immediate action'

Companies interested in operating ICE detention centers had just over two weeks to submit bids. The bidding period closed Nov. 4.

Ten days later, the California Congressional delegation, led by Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, fired a warning shot. They sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE, charging that ICE’s solicitation process appeared to have been tipped toward the three for-profit companies that currently operate immigration detention centers in the state, a potential violation of federal procurement law.

Federal officials still haven't responded to the letter, Harris spokesperson Matt Lopez said in an email.

"Senator Harris will continue to monitor developments and determine potential next steps for oversight work in the state," he said.

ICE spokesperson Lori Haley previously said the agency “remains compliant with federal contract and acquisitions regulations, as we advertise opportunity notices and subsequently implement the decision process.”

On Friday, immigrant advocates blasted ICE for the tactics they used to secure the contracts before AB 32 takes effect. ICE received just one bid for each of its narrowly crafted solicitations, according to the announcements. Rather than issue five-year contracts as described in the solicitation, ICE awarded three 15-year contracts and one five-year contract.

“It has been quite clear from the outset that these solicitations violate federal law,” Jackie Gonzalez, policy director for Immigrant Defense Advocates, said in an email. “The fact that all four of these contracts received only one bid is consistent with our belief that they lacked full and open competition and were part of a scheme to enrich the private prison industry and circumvent AB 32.”

She continued: “ICE ramming through 15-year contracts and funneling more than $5 billion to these private prison companies represents corruption in its highest form.”

The Dignity not Detention Coalition, a group of pro-immigrant organizations, called for action to protect AB 32.

"We call on Attorney General Becerra and our congressional delegation to take immediate action to defend our neighbors from abuse and to hold the Trump administration and corporations accountable for this corrupt and illicit scheme," the coalition said in a statement.

Rebecca Plevin reports on immigration for the Desert Sun. Reach her at rebecca.plevin@desertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter at @rebeccaplevin.