Alameda County Blocks ICE From Reopening Notorious Women's Prison Shut Down Over Sexual Abuse

Alameda County officials have drawn a hard line against federal immigration authorities seeking to repurpose a notorious women's prison shut down over rampant staff sexual abuse.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose any effort to reopen Federal Correctional Institution Dublin as a detention facility, escalating local resistance after reports surfaced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was considering the site for immigrant detention.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons closed FCI Dublin in December 2024 following what advocates describe as systematic failures including staff sexual misconduct targeting incarcerated women, many of them undocumented, along with documented environmental hazards such as mold, asbestos, and crumbling infrastructure.

Despite the closure, county officials cited "credible reports and public speculation" that the federal government or contractors could reopen the facility. News reports in early 2025 revealed ICE was actively considering the site, prompting sustained organizing by community groups and survivors.

A History of Abuse and Neglect

The resolution introduced by Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Marquez details the facility's troubled past. According to a March 2026 letter to the board, FCI Dublin operated as a low-security federal prison for women until its closure, which followed years of reports documenting staff sexual abuse and dangerous conditions.

Kendra Drysdale, a survivor of FCI Dublin and member of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, testified that the facility represents "one of the darkest human rights scandals in California's history." She called for it to be permanently closed and repurposed for community use rather than continuing its role in the carceral system.

Environmental safety concerns compound the human rights issues. The Bureau of Prisons itself deemed the facility unfit for use due to serious infrastructural problems, including asbestos and mold that pose health risks to anyone housed or working there.

Community Resistance Builds Momentum

Hundreds of residents packed the supervisors meeting to voice opposition, part of a broader coalition effort that has been building since ICE's interest became public.

The Dublin City Council voted unanimously in December 2025 to oppose any reopening after dozens of residents spoke during public comment. The ICE Out of Dublin Coalition, a network of community organizations, faith leaders, survivors, and advocates, has organized sustained public engagement to block the proposal.

Sophie Sarkar of Tsuru for Solidarity, a Japanese American organization opposing incarceration and detention, connected the fight to historical patterns of family separation and detention. "As Japanese Americans, we know that separating families and holding human beings in inhumane carceral conditions causes deep harm that is passed down from generation to generation," Sarkar said.

Adrian Van, a Dublin High School student, testified about the facility's psychological impact on the community. "Despite being right next to where we live we can't see the facility. We can't see the asbestos filled walls. Yet it still looms large over all of Dublin."

Why Alameda County Says No

The resolution cites multiple grounds for opposition beyond the facility's abusive history.

Alameda County identifies as a "Welcoming County" and has previously taken steps to prepare for increased ICE presence in the area while opposing detention expansion. Officials argue that reopening FCI Dublin would undermine trust in local institutions, particularly given that immigrants make up 526,000 of the county's 1.57 million residents.

County officials pointed to cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, where increased ICE enforcement has resulted in immigrants losing trust in local government and public services. They warned that converting the facility into an immigration detention center would likely produce similar effects in Alameda County.

The resolution also notes ongoing protests against ICE and immigration detention centers across California as evidence of sustained public opposition to detention expansion.

What Happens Next

The adopted resolution formally rejects any future reopening of FCI Dublin, including its conversion into an immigration detention center. It also calls on the Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Prisons, and other federal authorities to maintain regular communication with Alameda County regarding the site's future.

Whether the resolution will deter federal authorities remains unclear. ICE operates detention facilities across the country, often over local objections, and the Trump administration has prioritized detention expansion as part of its immigration enforcement agenda.

But organizers say local opposition matters. Coalition members emphasized that sustained advocacy and community organizing are critical tools for blocking detention expansion, even when federal authorities hold ultimate jurisdiction over facilities like FCI Dublin.

The fight over FCI Dublin reflects a broader tension between local communities seeking to protect immigrant residents and federal authorities pursuing aggressive detention and deportation policies. For now, Alameda County has made its position clear: this facility will not be used to cage people again.