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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Crime & Justice

ICE Detainee Films Apparent Worms in Drinking Water at California Facility

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Attorneys released footage of an ICE detainee in California holding water that appeared to contain worm-like creatures.
  • The detainee, Carlitos Ricardo Parias, described the contaminants as "worms" or "larvae" from water provided to residents.
  • This comes after a judge ordered ICE to ensure 24-hour access to clean water at the Adelanto facility, which is run by Geo Group.

Attorneys for Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a man detained at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in California, have released disturbing footage showing him holding a bottle of water that appears to be contaminated with worm-like creatures. The video, captured during a video call this week, was shared with The Guardian by one of Parias's lawyers, Margaret Hellerstein.

worms

— Carlitos Ricardo PariasDescribing the contaminants found in the drinking water.

Parias, who has been detained for months, described the small pests swimming in the water as "worms" or some kind of "larvae." He stated that this water was distributed to residents within the facility. In a statement shared by his attorney, Parias expressed his distress, saying, "This is what they give us: contaminated water, water with larvae, water with little black worms, which is slowly killing each one of us who are detained here." He added, "We need proper drinking water, better treatment."

The Department of Homeland Security stated that the Adelanto facility receives its water from the city of Adelanto, providing "the same water used by residents and businesses in the area." Geo Group, the private company operating the facility, did not respond to inquiries. The exact source of the water in the bottle and its distribution to detainees remain unclear.

This is what they give us: contaminated water, water with larvae, water with little black worms, which is slowly killing each one of us who are detained here. We need proper drinking water, better treatment.

— Carlitos Ricardo PariasExpressing his distress over the water quality and demanding better conditions.

This footage surfaces just weeks after a federal judge mandated that ICE guarantee "24-hour access to clean, potable drinking water" at the Adelanto facility. This ruling was a response to a class-action lawsuit alleging "dangerous conditions," including denial of adequate food, clean water, and proper medical care for detained individuals. Parias himself gained national attention after being shot by an ICE agent in October and subsequently charged with assault, a charge later dismissed by a federal judge. He is currently facing removal proceedings.

This is video evidence. They can’t just sweep it under the rug.

— Margaret HellersteinReacting to the video footage and emphasizing its importance as evidence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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