Mesa Verde ICE is for US Immigration & Customs Enforcement-ICE offenders have not been sentenced yet and are detained here until their case is heard.
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for Low facility.
The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is MoneyGram There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
The Mesa Verde (ICE) Processing Center - GEO is a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility located at 425 Golden State Ave in Bakersfield, CA in Kern County. This medium-security facility is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and functions as a holding center for immigration detainees awaiting trial, deportation, or serving sentences following conviction.
To find an ICE inmate, please use the Detainee Locator System with the A-Number search being the most efficient method. The A-number must be exactly nine digits; if shorter, zeros should be added at the beginning. When searching by name, the first and last names must be entered as an exact match, and the detainee's correct country of birth must be selected. Please note that records of individuals under 18 cannot be searched.
Detainees at this facility are assigned to housing based on their custody level, determined by various factors including sentence length and criminal history. The detention center provides a wide range of educational and vocational training programs. Additionally, the facility is equipped to meet most detainee needs, including dietary, health, fitness, education, religious practices, and entertainment. As a privately operated facility, it undergoes frequent inspections to ensure it remains in top condition, maintaining a clean record to secure ongoing government contracts.
The Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, California, is one of the most prominent immigration detention facilities operating on the West Coast. The facility houses ICE detainees under contract with the Department of Homeland Security and is operated by the private corrections company GEO Group under a direct federal detention agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Unlike county jails managed by elected sheriffs, Mesa Verde functions as a privately operated immigration detention center dedicated specifically to federal immigration custody operations. The facility opened in its current immigration detention role in 2015 after GEO Group renovated the downtown Bakersfield property to accommodate ICE detainees transferred from overcrowded detention systems throughout California and the Southwest.
Mesa Verde maintains a detention capacity of approximately 400 detainees, according to multiple ICE inspection reports and detention oversight documents. The facility houses adult male detainees across minimum, medium, and higher security classifications while they await immigration hearings, deportation proceedings, asylum decisions, or transfer to other ICE facilities. Although California has attempted through legislation to limit private immigration detention facilities, federal court rulings allowed facilities like Mesa Verde to continue operating under federal authority. Population levels at the detention center fluctuate significantly depending on nationwide immigration enforcement activity, and the facility has periodically experienced overcrowding pressures during large federal immigration operations
ICE Detainee Information
This facility holds immigration detainees under an active contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in addition to its regular population. ICE detainees are civil immigration detainees, not criminal defendants, and are held while their immigration cases are processed. The rules, rights, and services that apply to ICE detainees differ from those that apply to the general jail population.
To locate an ICE detainee at this facility, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov. You will need the detainee's A-Number, a nine-digit Alien Registration Number that appears on any immigration document they have received. If the A-Number has fewer than nine digits, add zeros at the beginning. If you do not have the A-Number, you can search using the detainee's full legal name, country of birth, and date of birth. Names must be an exact match; try variations if the first search returns no results.
Immigration bond works differently from criminal bail. Not all detainees are eligible for bond; those with certain criminal convictions or prior deportation orders may be subject to mandatory detention. For those who are eligible, bond is set by an immigration judge and typically ranges from $1,500 to over $10,000. Bond must be paid in full before release. An immigration attorney can request a bond hearing and argue for a lower amount based on the detainee's circumstances.
Unlike criminal defendants, ICE detainees do not have the right to a government-appointed attorney. They must hire a private immigration attorney or find free legal help through a nonprofit organization. RAICES provides legal services and bond assistance at raicestexas.org. The National Immigrant Justice Center offers free legal representation at immigrantjustice.org. Many immigration courts also maintain a list of free and low-cost legal service providers available to detainees upon request.
ICE transfers detainees between facilities frequently and with little advance notice, sometimes to locations far from family and legal counsel. If you cannot locate your family member through this page, search the ICE Online Detainee Locator again at locator.ice.gov with their A-Number. If they have an attorney, notify the attorney immediately as transfers affect court appearances and case timelines. Search here - ICE Detainee Locator.
One of the most distinctive features of the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center is its location in the heart of downtown Bakersfield, unlike many immigration detention facilities built in remote desert or rural areas. The building itself was formerly used for other correctional purposes before GEO Group converted it into a federal immigration detention site. Because the facility sits within Kern County, it has become deeply connected to the broader political and legal battles surrounding immigration detention in California. Immigration advocacy organizations, civil rights groups, attorneys, and local activists have repeatedly organized demonstrations outside the facility, particularly during hunger strikes and allegations involving prolonged detention or medical concerns. Mesa Verde has frequently appeared in national immigration litigation involving detainee rights, access to legal representation, and COVID-era detention policies.
Operationally, the detention center functions as a secure federal processing and detention facility rather than a traditional county jail. Staff members coordinate detainee intake, classification, transportation, attorney visitation, medical care, commissary services, immigration paperwork processing, and security operations under ICE detention standards. Federal oversight inspections, including PREA audits and DHS Office of Detention Oversight reviews, have examined conditions inside the facility on multiple occasions. The center also works closely with immigration courts handling California detainee cases, particularly those tied to the San Francisco and Los Angeles immigration court systems. Because of its relatively centralized California location, Mesa Verde serves as an important transfer and holding point within the state’s immigration detention network.
The Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center has become one of the most debated immigration detention facilities in California due to the state’s ongoing political conflict over private detention centers and federal immigration enforcement. California lawmakers have repeatedly attempted to phase out private immigration detention facilities, while ICE and GEO Group have continued expanding detention operations through federal legal protections and contract renewals. Despite controversy surrounding private detention operations, Mesa Verde remains a critical component of DHS immigration enforcement infrastructure throughout California. Its combination of federal immigration custody operations, GEO Group management, downtown urban setting, and frequent involvement in immigration policy disputes has made Mesa Verde one of the most recognizable ICE detention facilities in the western United States.
Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.
After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.
The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers.
The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only; inmates cannot receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account with a third-party phone company may incur high per-minute usage fees. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, unopened, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.
