Faith Leaders Began Pilgrimage for Immigrant Rights
Clergy members are walking 96.5 miles to Los Angeles to protest conditions at the Adelanto ICE facility.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Immigration
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Faith leaders launched an eight-day, 96.5-mile pilgrimage from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center to Los Angeles to demand better treatment for detainees. Organized by several advocacy groups, the trek highlights concerns regarding federal detention centers in California.
Why it matters
Organizers seek to increase public awareness of living conditions inside federal facilities while advocating for stronger protections for immigrant communities across the state.
California recently enacted a 25% tax on private detention centers and banned the use of shock gloves by ICE officers. As of April 2026, the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, operated by The GEO Group, held approximately 1,800 people.
The players
Gavin Newsom
As the Governor of California, he recently signed a package of bills intended to increase oversight and protections for immigrant communities.
The GEO Group
This private company operates the Adelanto ICE Processing Center where the pilgrimage originated.
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
This organization is one of the primary groups coordinating the protest pilgrimage across Southern California.
The details
Pilgrims are walking between 12 and 16 miles daily, resting at various congregations along their path to the state's largest city. Before beginning the journey on September 29, participants held prayers and placed flowers at the gates of the detention center in San Bernardino County.
Timeline
The pilgrimage officially began on September 29, 2026.
Adelanto facility held 1,800 detainees as of April 2026.
The protest trek is scheduled to conclude on October 6, 2026.
Political Context
The pilgrimage aligns with broader state efforts to curtail private immigration detention through the implementation of California's private detention center tax legislation. Conversely, private operators and some federal agencies have historically pushed back, arguing that such state-level financial measures interfere with federal immigration enforcement authority.
New state regulations, including the detention center tax and the ban on shock gloves, represent significant changes to how state-sanctioned facilities must operate. These laws directly affect the regulatory environment for private contractors within the state and may influence future detention standards.
The takeaway
This event underscores the growing intersection between state-level legislative action and federal immigration enforcement policies. Readers interested in civic advocacy may note how organized treks serve as a traditional tool to amplify local concerns to a broader state audience.
What happens next
The pilgrimage is scheduled to finish its journey in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local policy shifts in our California Immigration section.
Live Poll
Should state governments impose taxes and regulations on federally contracted private detention centers?
