On a brisk December evening, more than 100 Dublin, California, residents packed into the city council chambers, united by a common concern: the fate of the former Federal Correctional Institution Dublin. The city council’s unanimous vote on December 16, 2025, sent a clear message to federal authorities—Dublin formally opposes reopening the shuttered women’s prison as an immigration detention facility or, for that matter, any kind of incarceration center. While the city lacks legal authority over federal property, the resolution marks a significant stand for a community that prides itself on safety, diversity, and inclusion.
According to reporting by the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice and KQED, the council’s decision follows months of mounting anxiety. The now-closed FCI Dublin had operated as a low-security federal correctional facility for women until its abrupt shutdown in April 2024. The closure came in the wake of damning reports: systemic staff misconduct, inadequate oversight, multiple criminal prosecutions, and hazardous infrastructure issues—including asbestos and mold contamination—had eroded public trust and made the facility unsafe for both inmates and staff.
"The BOP has determined that the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) located in Dublin, California (FCI Dublin), where most of the buildings and infrastructure were developed in the 1970s, is no longer needed to house inmates, requires substantial capital investment to meet standards, and is costly to operate and maintain," the Bureau of Prisons wrote in a December 4 letter to city officials, as cited by KQED. The Bureau announced plans to transfer the property to the U.S. General Services Administration, potentially opening the door for a new use—possibly as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center.
That possibility has galvanized Dublin’s residents and leaders. The city’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, with about 40% of residents born outside the United States. The city touts its status as one of California’s safest cities, its desirable school district, and its recognition as an "All-America City." The prospect of an ICE facility, many say, clashes with Dublin’s values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
At the December 16 meeting, community members waved signs reading "ICE out of Dublin" and "We welcome immigrants here." The outpouring of opposition had been building for weeks. At a previous council meeting on November 18, more than 30 residents spoke against the idea. The city’s resolution, introduced by Council Member Jean Josey, was a direct response to these concerns.
Vice Mayor Josey, whose leadership helped shepherd the resolution, voiced fears about the wider impact of a detention facility on the city’s fabric. "We’re seeing fear around the country. We’re seeing impacts on schools and small businesses," Josey told KQED. "When there’s a detention facility nearby, it is well documented that there’s increased enforcement that’s not necessarily targeting folks with criminal backgrounds, but folks who may just look as if they might be immigrants." She also highlighted the proximity of homes to the property, noting, "There are homes right up against the property. We don’t feel that it is an appropriate facility at this point to house anyone."
The city’s official resolution warns that an ICE presence could sow fear and anxiety, reduce public participation in the local economy, lower school attendance, decrease use of city facilities, and erode trust in city leadership and public safety providers. It also points to the site’s deep infrastructure deficiencies, asserting that the former prison is ill-suited for the legal, medical, and logistical needs of people in immigration proceedings.
The scars of the facility’s troubled past remain fresh for many. Darlene Baker, who was incarcerated at FCI Dublin between April 2022 and February 2023 and survived sexual assault during her sentence, wrote to the council: "The beautiful City of Dublin should shine a beacon of light and loudly proclaim that they will no longer tolerate being the home of the ‘Dublin Rape Club’…I respectfully urge the Council to use every means available to ensure this facility is never opened again, including and especially use as an ICE facility housing vulnerable immigrants." Her words echoed through the council chambers, a stark reminder of the human cost behind the headlines.
Other residents expressed similar sentiments. Alfredo, an immigrant and Dublin resident, told the council, "If this detention center opens, we will not feel safe here in Dublin because we will all be at risk, as people are being taken away without respect for our rights…I thank you for presenting this resolution and I support it so that it can be voted on and passed." Liz Schmitt, 85, a member of the local Indivisible chapter, added, "I recognize it’s federal property and the city has absolutely no legal authority, but public outcry can go a long way. The council listened to the residents and did what the residents asked, and I’m very proud of that."
The city’s stance is also supported by its representatives in Congress. Democratic Reps. Eric Swalwell and Mark DeSaulnier have both spoken out against converting the prison into an ICE facility, according to KQED. City staff have written to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security, urging them not to reopen the site for detention purposes, and are in contact with state and federal lawmakers.
Despite the city’s strong opposition, the ultimate decision rests with federal authorities. ICE has not commented publicly on its intentions for the Dublin site, but the agency has previously sought additional detention space within a two-hour drive of its San Francisco field office. Currently, the nearest ICE lockup is nearly 300 miles away, and the agency’s search for new facilities has drawn scrutiny from immigrant rights advocates and local officials alike.
The debate over FCI Dublin comes as California grapples with the broader implications of immigration enforcement and detention. In recent years, ICE has increased its presence in the state, often contracting with private prison companies to run its detention centers. A new ICE facility opened in California City in August 2025, but it has already faced allegations of substandard conditions, as reported by KQED.
For Dublin, the fight is as much about principle as it is about policy. The council’s resolution, while largely symbolic, calls on the federal government to engage in "open and transparent communication" with the city regarding any decisions about the site. Advocates say that making their opposition public is crucial, even if the city lacks direct control. As Josey put it, "While it is true that we do not have any direct influence or any direct control, we believe that we can make our feelings known."
As the federal government weighs the future of the former prison, Dublin’s message is unmistakable: this community stands together to protect its values, its residents, and its reputation as a place of safety and inclusion. The next move, however, is out of their hands.
