Senator Pérez’s new legislation would strengthen state accountability of private detention facilities with fines and closures for bad actors
SACRAMENTO – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) has introduced SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, designed to strengthen state oversight, institute fines and revoke licenses of private detention facilities when they fail to meet health and safety standards.
Under SB 995, California would use its state authority to hold private detention centers accountable to comply with state health and safety standards just as it does with every other involuntary residential facility through inspections of the physical space to evaluate compliance.
Detention center operators would be required to correct any deficiencies identified and could face a civil penalty up to $25,000 per violation per day and face the suspension or revocation of their state-issued permits to operate.
“Private detention centers have earned millions in profits and continued to secure contracts with government agencies, despite well documented cases of health and safety violations. It is time for the State of California to use its legal and moral authority to inspect private detention facilities, hold bad actors accountable and close facilities with consistent, documented cases of human rights abuses,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena).
In a report released last year, the California Attorney General (AG) reviewed six private immigration detention facilities in California and found serious deficiencies, including inadequate medical and mental health care, inadequate suicide prevention protocols, a lack of transparency regarding use-of-force practices, and impacts to due process rights including the ability to access legal counsel. Many of these issues have persisted despite federal inspections conducted under ICE’s own Performance-Based National Detention Standards.
At present, California has an approximate 7,000 detention bed capacity across all facilities which is poised to increase as some operators move to expand detention space at two facilities in Kern County. The AG points out that increases in population levels will affect their ability to provide adequate health care and other essential services for detainees.
The relevance of SB 995 is best understood through Californians affected by these private detention centers. For example, Masuma Khan, 64, an immigrant from Bangladesh has lived in the United States for nearly 30 years with her husband and their daughter who are both U.S. citizens. She is a resident of Altadena who survived the Eaton Fire in January 2025. Khan has been attempting to obtain permanent legal status for years. In October 2025, Khan was detained by federal immigration officials during one of her regular check-in appointments. Khan was held in a cold private detention facility without warm clothes, appropriate food, or access to vital medicine. In November 2025, a federal judge ordered Khan be released and blocked her detention until the court could consider the government’s argument on why it needs to detain Khan.
“Masuma Khan represents just one of the many people with no criminal history, who is responsibly showing up to her government appointments, and has still been targeted by the Trump Administration. To make matters worse, Mrs. Khan was treated with cruelty, rather than dignity, in Core Civic’s private detention center: she was denied access to counsel, denied access to medical care and provided moldy food. SB 995 ensures operators of detention facilities follow California’s standard health and safety rules and allows us to hold these facilities accountable when they don’t,” said Senator Pérez.
“While I was detained at Core Civic's California City facility, I experienced fear and lasting trauma that no one should have to experience. I was not given vital medications, proper meals, and often, access to communicate with my family and attorneys. The lack of transparency and accountability at these facilities can only be prevented when third parties, including legislators and regulatory agencies, get fully involved. My family and I are very grateful for Senator Sasha Renée Pérez's advocacy and compassion for her constituents. She has been a fearless and kind leader we can trust to always stand up for our community,” said Masuma Khan, detained in private detention facility.
“No one in California should lose their dignity, their well-being, or their life because a facility failed to meet basic health and safety standards. California has both the right and the responsibility to ensure that every involuntary residential facility meets fundamental standards of safety, sanitation, and humane treatment. This bill makes that responsibility real,” said Hector O. Villagra, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) Vice President of Policy Advocacy and Community Education, co-sponsor of SB 995.
“CHIRLA applauds Senator Sasha Renée Pérez for her leadership in introducing SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act. For far too long these facilities have gone unregulated compromising the health and safety of its residents, engaging in medical neglect, creating unsafe conditions for residents, and failing to meet minimum standards of care. California must employ its policing powers to ensure all California residents in detention have access to basic necessities, care and safety. It is unconscionable to continue to operate these facilities without oversight given the unprecedented numbers of individuals detained in our state,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, (CHIRLA), co-sponsor of SB 995.”
SB 995 will begin the legislative process and be considered in a Senate policy committee hearing this Spring.
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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.