Livermore Pushed to Oppose Potential ICE Detention Center in Dublin
Livermore residents fear a proposed ICE detention center in nearby Dublin would bring increased immigration enforcement and anxiety to the Tri-Valley; Alameda Health System still has $72M shortfall
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Vol. VI, No. 1,290
—Livermore city leaders are exploring what actions they can take in response to fears the Trump administration may seek to convert the former Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin into an immigration detention center, as residents and advocates warned Monday that the facility could have far-reaching impacts across the Tri-Valley.
The discussion came after more than a dozen members of Indivisible Livermore urged the City Council to formally oppose the proposal and join regional efforts aimed at preventing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from reopening the shuttered prison as a detention facility.
The federal prison in Dublin was permanently closed in 2024 following a sweeping sexual abuse scandal involving correctional officers and inmates. Since then, reports have surfaced that federal officials are considering repurposing the facility to house immigrant detainees as the Trump administration expands detention capacity nationwide.
Last December, the Dublin City Council registered formal opposition to converting the prison to a detention center. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors followed suit in April
More on FCI Dublin:
A similar proposal has emerged in Gilroy, where federal officials are exploring increase immigration detention space, prompting opposition from local elected officials and immigrant-rights organizations.
—Livermore councilmembers stopped short of taking formal action Monday but expressed sympathy for residents’ concerns.
“It is the highest priority of the city to make sure all of our residents are safe,” Councilmember Evan Branning said. He suggested building a “meaningful coalition” and consulting with Dublin officials and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on possible next steps.
Councilmember Kristie Wang said she wanted staff to identify actions that would be effective rather than merely symbolic.
As an immigrant herself, Wang said she has become increasingly concerned about federal immigration enforcement. “I carry my passport everywhere I go,” she said.
Those concerns were echoed by Councilmember Ben Barrientos.
“My wife makes me carry my passport,” he said. “By the way, I’m brown. I could be a good target,” added that he had no desire to end up in the prison in El Salvador that has become associated with deportation flights under the Trump administration.
—Residents and advocates warned that an ICE detention center in nearby Dublin would have effects well beyond the city’s borders.
“With an ICE detention center just 15 minutes away from our city, this will mean a significant increased presence of ICE officers in our community—either seen or unseen,” said Livermore resident Lara Webber.
Opponents also warned of potential economic consequences. Speakers argued that recruiting and retaining employees at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories could become more difficult, while local agricultural employers that rely on immigrant workers could face additional challenges.
No formal federal decision has been announced. However, immigrant-rights groups and local elected officials throughout the East Bay are increasingly organizing in the event the administration moves quickly as they did last October at Coast Guard Island in Alameda.
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