Lofgren Condemns Proposed ICE Facility Near Gilroy, Fights in Congress Against New Detention Centers

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) issued the following statement regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility being planned at 7240 Holsclaw Road in an unincorporated area outside Gilroy in southern Santa Clara County:

"Just this week, Republicans in Washington decided to throw another $70 billion at ICE and CBP on top of the $140 billion they already gave for immigration enforcement last year," Rep. Lofgren said. "This taxpayer money comes without any guardrails to prevent lawless agents from harming our communities, and it's used to construct ICE facilities like the one planned outside Gilroy. The detention centers ICE is already operating have poor conditions, and it's part of why deaths in ICE custody have been skyrocketing. Many local leaders have already denounced this proposed facility, and I applaud AG Bonta and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti for their lawsuit to stop this illegal development. As for my role in Congress, I'm doing all that I can to block funding for new detention facilities."

This week, Congresswoman Lofgren introduced three amendments to the Republicans' $70 billion reconciliation package to fund ICE and CBP. These amendments, all rejected by House Republicans, would:

• Block construction of the 7240 Holsclaw Road facility(link is external)

• Prohibit building, buying, renovating, or operating a new processing site or detention center(link is external) unless DHS first provides an opportunity for public comment, give written notice to relevant state and local government officials, and notify Congress at least 30 days in advance

• Guarantee Congress and authorized staff can conduct unannounced inspections and interviews(link is external) with detainees at DHS detention facilities.

Congresswoman Lofgren sent a letter this week expressing her opposition to the Gilroy facility to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella. She was joined on the letter by all of her Bay Area colleagues: Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Sam Liccardo, Rep. Kevin Mullin, and Rep. Jimmy Panetta. The letter can be read here.

Rep. Lofgren also recently conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the California City ICE detention facility on May 28th.

###