Riot at Lancaster immigration center

Sheriff's deputies used tear gas to put down a riot that broke out Tuesday afternoon and involved 400 or so detainees at the Mira Loma immigration detention center in Lancaster, today's L.A. Daily Journal reports. From the story by Sandra Hernandez:

"We are still searching for injured," said Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Chris Walker. "We don't know how many detainees were injured." The riot broke out shortly after 1 p.m. "We are still investigating," he said, adding it was unclear how the melee started. However, detainees who spoke with the Daily Journal said the riot broke out after a guard allegedly allowed some gang members into barracks.

One person said several barracks were involved in the clash, and detainees were running for safety.

[skip]

Last year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10 million plan to expand the Lancaster facility just days after a detainee was killed while operating a jackhammer. Under the agreement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to pay the county $51 million to house 1,400 immigrants at the Mira Loma facility, according to the contract obtained by the Daily Journal.

The story is not online.