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Immigrants detained at two federal facilities in California have launched a boycott in protest of increasing and, in their view, burdensome prices at the facilities’ commissaries for items including tampons, coffee and soup.

The Times reviewed a grievance letter and spoke with three detainees who are involved in the boycott at the California City Detention Facility, about 80 miles east of Bakersfield, and at the Golden State Annex in McFarland.

More than 300 detainees are estimated to have signed grievance letters sent recently to facility administrators, according to advocates with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice.

Both facilities are operated by private prison corporations — the California City facility by Tennessee-based CoreCivic and the Golden State Annex by Florida-based GEO Group.

The Times has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, GEO Group and CoreCivic for comment.

Detainees are provided certain essentials, such as food and soap, free of charge, but many also purchase items at commissary stores that are of better quality or otherwise unavailable. Detainees said shampoo and other hygiene items sometimes run out for days and that meals are small or exacerbate diabetes and other health issues.

“The three daily meals that CoreCivic provides at California City Detention Facility are the bare minimum to keep a person alive,” they wrote. “Because of this, charging inflated prices on necessities is considered price gouging and profiteering against vulnerable incarcerated population who have no ability to refuse or shop elsewhere.”

The detainees said an 8 oz. jar of Folgers instant coffee costs $18 at the California City facility, a single instant ramen soup is 75 cents and a box of 40 tampons costs nearly $21.

At Walmart, the same Folgers coffee costs $8.97, Maruchan chicken ramen soup is 50 cents and 40 Tampax tampons are $12.19.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detains immigrants for civil purposes. Detention is meant to facilitate removal proceedings but is not meant to be punitive.

Detainees are paid $1 per day under a voluntary work program for cleaning or cooking. Many detainees rely on money from family and friends.

In their grievance letter, the detainees called the markups an unacceptable business practice with no apparent limit. They said they view the situation as an example of captive market exploitation and economic coercion.

The detainees requested a review of commissary pricing by facility leaders, a comparison of prices with prison industry standards, an immediate reduction in prices of essential items and the implementation of reasonable price caps. They also requested an increase in the portions of daily meals, including for meals meeting religious requirements, which they said are particularly small.

In May, the California State Senate passed a bill that would prohibit the excessive markup of products sold at private detention centers, limiting prices to 35% above the vendor cost. Existing California law already limits such markups in state prisons. The bill is now in the Assembly.

Priya Patel, an attorney at the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, represents people who have been detained at both facilities. She said that during legal service consultations, commissary pricing frequently comes up.

“The higher the prices get, the higher of an impact the conditions have on people and the more difficult it becomes to fight their cases,” Patel said.

The collaborative is one of the organizations that brought a lawsuit last year alleging inadequate medical care, as well as insufficient clothing, food, water and outdoor recreation time at the California City facility, which can hold more than 2,500 people. The lawsuit remains ongoing; in March, a U.S. district judge in San Francisco appointed an external monitor to ensure the facility provides “constitutionally adequate health care.”

The lawsuit describes multiple commissary-related issues. For example, it says the facility doesn’t provide headphones for tablets, making private phone calls — including privileged calls with attorneys — impossible unless the detainee can afford to purchase headphones from the commissary.

“One detained person has difficulty walking and standing for extended periods of time without shoes that provide arch support,” the complaint says. “He arrived at California City with appropriate shoes to accommodate his mobility disability, which were approved as an accommodation at a prior ICE facility. California City staff confiscated those shoes and instead provided him with plastic, orange sandals.”

“Several weeks after staff confiscated his shoes, he had an appointment with a doctor at California City,” it continues. “The doctor told the him … to buy different shoes from commissary to accommodate his foot condition.”

A contract between CoreCivic and ICE for the California City facility, dated April 1, 2025, says the contractor must provide notice of any price increases and that “any revenues earned in excess of what is required for commissary operations shall be used solely to benefit aliens at the facility.”

Alfredo Parada Calderon, 52, has been detained at the California City facility since September. He said commissary prices were already high before they increased around mid-June.

Parada Calderon said he asked an ICE officer why the prices had increased so much. The officer said he wasn’t aware of the change but that the vendor is Keefe Group, which supplies commissaries at prisons and immigrant detention centers across the country.

Detainees in his dormitory submitted a grievance about commissary prices, Parada Calderon said. The answer was vague.

“They’re blaming it on inflation,” he said.

Parada Calderon said his family sends him about $100 per month to spend on commissary items, which he spends on packets of crackers, coffee, soups, soap, shampoo, deodorant and chips.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “It’s a horrible enough place to be in and you guys are making it even more horrible, not just for me but for my family. The detainees want to be heard and this is the only option we actually have — a peaceful protest.”

Tommaso Bardelli, a researcher at New York University who studies mass incarceration, said the families of most people in prison are working class and may sacrifice their electricity bill or credit card payment to send money to their incarcerated relatives. The money they send no longer pays for small luxuries, he said, because prisons have over the years reduced how much they spend per person on necessities such as food.

Bardelli published a research article in 2022 about inequality within prison commissary stores. Commissary is often now the difference between starving and a semi-normal diet, he said.

With more than a dozen locations across the United Kingdom and its first stateside location landing in Manhattan next year, Dishoom is hardly a secret. But each outpost offers a distinct vibe and set of influences, with the location in Shoreditch recalling an eccentric Iranian cafe by way of Bombay with mismatched furniture, bamboo blinds and gently frayed rugs. For breakfast, there are stuffed naan rolls, date and banana porridge or a Bombay-inflected take on a full English breakfast with akuri, bacon, peppery Shropshire pork sausages, masala beans, grilled field mushrooms, grilled tomato and buttered buns, best paired with fresh juice, chai or a sesame espresso martini. The all-day menu features well-established hits such as chicken ruby, lamb and veggie samosas and the famous black daal that’s slow-cooked for 24 hours, with a range of lassi yogurt drinks, Indian beers and cocktails that put a spin on the classics, such as the thandai mai tai with rum, almond milk, black pepper, cardamom bitters and house thandai syrup. The restaurant doesn’t accept dinner reservations, and lines can get notoriously long, but hospitable servers help pass the time with free chai and sherry samples.

7 Boundary St., London E2 7JE

DAVID and Victoria Beckham put on brave faces as they celebrated their second Father’s Day without their estranged son Brooklyn. 

The pair were spotted heading to a London gastro-pub with their son Cruz, 21, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30. 

David, 51, and Victoria, 52, who were cut off by Brooklyn, 27, last year were also joined by their son Romeo and David’s mum Sandra, 77. 

On Father’s Day, David shared a photograph of all of their children, including daughter Harper, 14, and said: “Being a dad is my most important job… I love you all.” 

Brooklyn is understood to be “furious” with his parents once more after their Father’s Day posts.

David and Victoria both marked the annual event yesterday by sharing snaps of all of their children – including Brooklyn.

He had previously instructed his parents not to tag him in online posts – something that they have continually ignored.

The feud has rumbled on for over a year with a source telling The Sun that Brooklyn has been left filled with rage following his mum and dad’s latest stunt.

An insider told The Sun: “He’s fuming about it.

“He’s asked them to leave him alone and they just keep posting him.

“It just brings the whole thing up all over again.

“He wishes they’d leave it and leave him alone.”

Brooklyn, who lives in Los Angeles with his American actress wife Nicola, 31, has been estranged from his family for over a year and has accused them of trying to “control” him. 

IF you’re into amazing food, glam hotels and total peace and quiet in the countryside, you’re in luck.

Wowcher have a deal offering a luxurious overnight stay for two at Marco Pierre White’s Country House Hotel, The Rudloe Arms, for only £139.

The offer saves you a massive 42% off a full-price stay and includes an overnight break for two, as well as a three-course dinner and a cooked breakfast in the morning.

Whether you’ve got an occasion coming up, want to treat someone special or just want to switch off in the countryside – this bargain break is the ultimate excuse to pack your bags.

The four-star Wiltshire hotel sits in the pretty village of Corsham near the Cotswolds, surrounded by rolling hills and forest with plenty of scenic woodland walks.

The Rudloe Arms is an adults-only property built for relaxation, with its own orchards, gardens and a pond for scenic strolls.

Inside you can sit down for a cocktail in the snazzy Mousehole Bar, plus the Garden Room Restaurant in which dinner is served is full of warm lighting and vibrant greenery.

When it comes to rooms, each is individually designed with a charming countryside feel.

Large beds are topped with plush bedding, plus an ensuite bathroom stocked with luxurious toiletries.

Plus you can dine like royalty with a three-course dinner menu curated by celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White.

The dinner menu is seasonal and uses many local, high-quality ingredients with tasty meat, fish and vegetarian options.

If you fancy extending your trip to a two-night stay, the deal gets even better because dinner is included on both evenings.

After a restful night’s sleep guests can head back down to the Garden Room for a hearty cooked breakfast to fuel your next day.

Breakfast comes as your pick of a hot dish served with toast, marmalade and tea or French-pressed coffee.

While it might be tempting to hide away in your luxury room all day, there is plenty to see right on your doorstep.

The hotel is perfectly positioned for exploring top sights in the West Country. You can easily wander into the market town of Corsham for its pretty stone buildings and traditional pubs.

If you want to venture a little further, you’re on the edge of the Cotswolds here, plus the famous architecture of Bath is within easy driving distance.

Deals this good rarely stick around for long. This offer is available until June 30, so make sure to get in early to bag your early summer break.

To redeem the deal simply select the dates you’d like to visit on Wowcher’s website. Once you’ve booked and paid you’ll receive a code by email.

Then simply redeem the code, pack your bags and enjoy your break!

Turin is one of Italy’s most serious food cities, shaped by the culinary legacy of the House of Savoy and, more recently, the slow food movement – a reputation reflected in its historic cafes and restaurants, where meals can feel refined. But that’s only part of the picture. As a local, I’m drawn to something far less formal: the piòla.

Piòle were never quite restaurants. They were places for a glass of barbera (poured at the counter from a cylindrical, quarter-litre carafe, the tubo) in rooms worn smooth by decades of use. Regulars played cards, argued about football or politics, and lingered without ceremony. Food, if it appeared, was simple and to the point: anchovies in green sauce, hard-boiled eggs, cold cuts, perhaps a plate of agnolotti (stuffed pasta).

Many piòle disappeared from the 1960s onwards, as Turin grew more refined. Some closed; others evolved into osterie or restaurant-like spaces. More recently, though, the piòla has edged back into view – sometimes preserved, often reinterpreted in more stylised forms. But where can you still find Turin piòle that capture something of the originals’ spirit? I went to find out.

In the Quadrilatero Romano district

One of Turin’s longest-standing piòle, Caffè Vini Emilio Ranzini is on Via Porta Palatina, a short walk from Piazza Palazzo di Città and the cathedral. I stop by with a friend for a merenda sinoira, the late-afternoon spread that often replaces dinner.

The small, timeworn room fills quickly: students in clusters, couples leaning in, shopkeepers calling out to one another across tables of different styles. The walls are lined with old photographs and framed press cuttings; behind the counter, bottles of Punt e Mes, Cynar and other amari stand alongside vermouth and local wines (€2-€6 a glass).

In the display case are squares of semolino and polenta, fried meatballs, piles of friciulin (spinach-dark or potato-gold fritters) and slices of bread topped with insalata russa or vitello tonnato (veal with tuna sauce). We order at the bar (snacks are €2 or €3), then carry our plates to a courtyard with a handful of tables. Nothing feels polished, only lived-in, and the staff are easygoing – and if you’re lucky, you may catch an impromptu live performance by a local musician.
7.5/10

Cenisia district

This piòla has moved twice since opening in 1985, but has never left its block in Cenisia, near the Corso Racconigi market. After the death of its founder, Celso Chiantello, it is now run by his daughters, Elisabetta and Marina, and their children.

They welcome us as if we’ve known each other for years. At 12.30pm, only one other table is occupied: three men who have been coming here almost daily for decades, talking in Piedmontese dialect. But within minutes, the small, warmly lit room turns loud with easy, overlapping conversation as friends and families arrive.

There’s no menu; dishes follow a familiar rhythm: a handful of starters, a few pastas, two or three mains, and a couple of desserts. We start with a mix of antipasti – vitello tonnato, tomino cheese, salame cotto and insalata russa – along with some house white, then add peppers with bagna càuda, a warm anchovy and garlic sauce.

As Marina clears the table, she spots a slice of salami on my friend’s plate, and jokingly insists it be eaten: “You can’t leave something this good!” She returns soon after with agnolotti del plin and gnocchi in a creamy cheese sauce. The portions are generous; we struggle to finish, but still share a slice of freshly baked fruit tart. We pay €37 between us and leave with the sense that this is how regulars are made.
10/10

Barca district

On the north-eastern outskirts of Turin, just past the so-called curva delle 100 lire (a bend once known for its low toll), La Piola d’le Due Sörele draws locals and drivers passing through daily. We turn up for lunch on a Wednesday without booking, and are seated within minutes as a table turns. Barbera comes in a carafe as the menu is recited: a choice of primi, then a secondo with a contorno (side dish), followed by dessert and coffee – all for €12 each.

Around us, workers on lunchbreak greet the family running the place by name. It’s spacious but crowded, noisy and full of movement – plates arrive, tables clear, the courtyard at the back settles into its own pace. Not a historic piòla, but among locals it’s already something of a legend. My favourite bite is the simplest: polenta fritta, crisp outside, soft within. At the counter, as we go to pay, Gianni pours us a small glass of amaro – a simple, fitting end to a meal that knows its role.
8.5/10

Vanchiglia district

A few steps from the University of Turin, on Via Sant’Ottavio, La Piola di Alfredo has long been a meeting place for students, families and regulars. Open in its current form since 1978, it still moves to an easy, shared rhythm. I arrive on a weekday at lunchtime: one room is taken over by a graduation celebration, another hums more quietly, while outside tables sit in the shade along the street.

As I scan the handwritten menu – carne cruda, brasato (beef stew), hazelnut cake – a glass of Dolcetto d’Alba arrives with bread and grissini. A man at the next table offers advice; I follow it. Tomino with honey and walnuts, then tortelloni filled with spinach and ricotta – a few good ingredients, handled simply. The bill is €17 in total.

Portions are smaller than you might expect, and the whole experience felt quite contained. As a first encounter with a piòla, it works well enough, but it lacks the pull of places you’d want to return to.
6/10

Cenisia district

This osteria sits on narrow, residential Via Cenischia, where there’s little to announce it beyond a hand-painted sign. I book three days in advance and am offered a late slot (9.45pm), arriving to find the place in full swing. We’re handed glasses of white wine and asked to wait briefly in the courtyard, under a vine-covered pergola, before being shown inside.

Antonella Rota, who has run the place with her family since 1990, moves easily between the compact dining rooms, taking orders and pausing to chat. Osteria Antiche Sere grew out of a half-serious idea, in a space once more spartan and closer to a piòla. Dark wood panelling, copper pans and antique clocks on the walls give the rooms a settled, old-world feel. The menu changes with the season, but holds steady day to day.

We share an antipasto misto (€18) with a quarter litre of red (€5) , then I order a plate of local cheeses with honey, while my partner goes for coniglio al vino bianco (rabbit braised in white wine, €17) with potatoes, the meat glazed with its juices. I’m already full when Daniele Rota, Antonella’s brother, stops by the table and convinces us to try dessert (€6): panna cotta or torcetti (yeasted biscuits) served with zabaglione, chocolate and cream. We’re glad we did, even if we leave barely able to move.

The place relies on a low-key Facebook page and word of mouth, yet is full most evenings. There’s a natural familiarity between the people behind it and its regulars, the kind you come back for.
9.5/10

Lucento district

At Circolo Paracchi, near the post-industrial landscape of Parco Dora, the piòla hasn’t been revived or reinterpreted – it has simply carried on. Founded in 1927 as a workers’ leisure club linked to the Paracchi carpet factory, it later developed into a sports club, with a simple, home-style kitchen.

It remains a members’ club, a self-contained world where regulars come to eat, drink and play cards. We arrive unannounced and ask for a quick plate. After a brief pause, Rosa, one of the cooks, waves us in. A printed menu hangs on the wall, but we choose from what’s on the go. We sit outside beside a bocce court that no longer seems to be in use, while a group gathers at a long table nearby. Olives and cheese come first, along with house wine; then a large plate of pasta e fagioli (pasta with beans) to share: €10 in total for wine and food.

As we finish, Rosa steps out and gives us an impromptu tour of the club’s memorabilia. Occasionally, she says, they make room for outsiders, but that’s not what the place is for. The piòla at Circolo Paracchi isn’t somewhere you seek out, it’s somewhere you come to belong. For an evening, we’re let in.
8/10

A foodie left people floored after sharing the price of his three-course meal at a Benidorm restaurant. Harry shared his story after he sampled what was on offer at a popular eatery

Thousands flock to Benidorm each year for a spot of sun-soaked fun, but one man recently left people gobsmacked after sharing the price of his meal abroad. He popped into a well-known establishment to enjoy a three-course meal, and people were floored when they caught a glimpse of his bill.

Harry, known as Harry Tokky on TikTok, regularly documents his travels and escapades in Benidorm, keen to showcase everything Spain has to offer. He recently turned heads after sharing a dining experience that left followers speechless when they discovered what he’d forked out at a local restaurant during his time there.

He posted footage of himself tucking into his food before delivering an honest verdict. It’s not the first time the cost of eating out has caught people’s attention at the beloved holiday hotspot.

Harry said: “Today I’m here at Uncle Ron’s, locally famous for the €1 pint, and what might be the cheapest Sunday roast in Benidorm. What are we waiting for? Let’s go and get ourselves a Sunday roast.

“Just ordered myself a chicken roast at a mental price of €12 (£10.36). Do you think that’s cheap? Because I do.”

In the caption, he clarified this covered three courses, writing: “Would you pay €12 for a three-course Sunday roast in Benidorm?”

When the food arrived, he appeared thoroughly impressed, raving about the generous portion size and noting it came with a hearty amount of gravy on the side.

He added: “I can’t get over the fact that this is all €12. We’ve even got a bit of stuffing there as well.

“As far as value goes, I mean you’re not going to get better value than this I don’t think anywhere else in Benidorm. I mean, look at the size of it.

“Fantastic. Would you pay €12 for this roast dinner? Because I certainly would.”

Warning: Below video contains language some may find offensive

The footage got tongues wagging, with many viewers left gobsmacked by what a steal it was.

One wrote: “Had one Sunday. It was absolutely lovely. €12 for dinner and pudding.”

Another chimed in: “€13 with a pint – Holy Moly!” A third remarked: “Love Uncle Ron’s.”

While a fourth also added: “Brilliant bar. Uncle Ron’s is great.”

For those yet to make a visit, Uncle Ron’s in Benidorm is well-regarded for serving up incredibly wallet-friendly roast dinners. Over the years, it’s typically been priced at around €12 for multiple courses.

You’ll find it situated on Calle Londres in the new town. It’s a firm favourite for pub grub, boasting live music, reasonably priced drinks and a laid-back atmosphere.