California Sues to Halt Planned ICE Facility Near Gilroy, Says Federal Government Bypassed Review Process

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County officials have filed a lawsuit seeking to block construction of a planned federal immigration facility near Gilroy, arguing that the project violates state and local laws and has moved forward with little public disclosure.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San José, challenges a Department of Homeland Security project on nearly 25 acres of unincorporated land at 7240 Holsclaw Road. State and county officials allege the site is zoned exclusively for agricultural use and that federal authorities failed to provide required notice or follow environmental and planning procedures before construction began.

"The administration is trying to jam through a new facility on a community that does not want it, bulldozing over laws, shrouding their plans in secrecy and ignoring calls from the community to stop," Bonta said at a news conference reported by The Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit marks the 71st legal challenge filed by his office against the Trump administration.

Federal officials have maintained that the project is an ICE office rather than a detention center. However, documents obtained by San José Spotlight earlier this month appear to show plans for detention and processing functions at the facility.

The 111-page blueprint package includes holding rooms, detainee processing areas, interview rooms, visitation areas and dedicated spaces for mothers with infants, according to the outlet.

County Counsel Tony LoPresti told The LA Times the project appeared to be advancing with minimal transparency:

"Part of the problem here is that they are trying to move forward with this project with as little transparency as possible, and hoping that nobody notices, nobody catches on to the details. So, part of what our lawsuit will do is it will force that transparency to occur"

The lawsuit also alleges that the property sits in an environmentally sensitive area that supports endangered species and relies on limited water and waste infrastructure. It further claims previous agricultural tenants generated hazardous materials that may not have been properly remediated.

Federal procurement records show DHS signed a 20-year lease worth $26.5 million for the site. Construction activity began earlier this year, according to court filings. Community groups, local officials and neighboring Monterey County have opposed the Gilroy project, arguing it could expand immigration enforcement activity in the region.

Similar concerns have emerged in Dublin, where federal officials are considering future uses for the former Federal Correctional Institution Dublin. In a June 1 letter, a group of congressional Democrats said they strongly oppose transferring the site for immigration detention purposes and urged federal authorities to evaluate demolition and environmental remediation instead.

The lawmakers cited contamination concerns, aging infrastructure and the facility's history of staff sexual misconduct, arguing that reopening it "for any purpose, including to incarcerate people in ICE custody," would be inappropriate.