California lawmakers have approved a bill that would ban private prisons, including immigrant detention facilities.
Bill AB32 was introduced back in February to eliminate these facilities; four privately-operated prisons housing over 2,000 inmates and another two of them used to house ICE detainees.
The proposal comes as reports of abuse and mistreatment at the facilities are on the rise.
A 2018 inspection report found that one of the prisons had "significant health and safety risks" and inmates were often forced to wait "weeks and months" to get medical attention.
It also found that detainees were regularly placed in solitary confinement for minor violations.
The bill will next be sent to Governor Newsom and if he approves it, the prisons could be closed down as early as next year.