A small portion of the center's resources are dedicated to illegal immigration detainees, however, that usage was discontinued in July 2019.

Early on in the operating span of the facility, inmates would spend time farming fruits, vegetables, and livestock.

[2][3] In 2021, criticism arose surrounding the Orange County Board of Supervisors and its decision to approve the jail's expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic without hearing public comments on the matter.

An activist group called Stop the Musick Coalition and the City of Irvine have both expressed displeasure with the board's conduct.

On May 4, 2021, the city passed a resolution requesting that the county board of supervisors hold a town hall on the matter to hear the public's opinion.