California Sues Trump Administration to Block Gilroy ICE Facility

The state of California and Santa Clara County filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in San Jose on June 10, 2026, to permanently block the construction of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Gilroy. Rob Bonta, the Attorney General of California, and County Counsel Tony LoPresti allege the Trump administration bypassed environmental laws, ignored agricultural zoning protections dating back to the 1960s, and violated the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act by failing to consult local leaders.

The contested 25-acre site on Holsclaw Road is believed to be a short-term detention center capable of holding 150 people. Plaintiffs point to blueprints from the U.S. General Services Administration featuring a weapons suite and man trap as evidence of a detention purpose. Additionally, officials claim the site is contaminated by chemical leaks and threatens endangered steelhead fish.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has denied plans for a new detention center at that specific location, characterizing it as an office. However, the agency affirmed that ICE is actively working to expand detention space across the United States. Local officials, including Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chair Otto Lee, have characterized the federal action as unlawful and secretive.