Federal judge moves to block proposed ICE facility in Gilroy

A federal judge has issued a tentative ruling indicating she may grant a preliminary injunction to block the construction of a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Gilroy, California.

Judge Eumi Lee of the Northern District of California stated that plaintiffs demonstrated a “likelihood of success” in arguing that the project violates federal environmental laws. The lawsuit, filed in June by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County officials, alleges the federal government bypassed environmental regulations and local zoning rules to advance the 25-acre site.

The facility, located at 7240 Holsclaw Road, is designed to hold more than 100 detainees. If the injunction is finalized, construction will be halted until the lawsuit is resolved. A final ruling is expected during a hearing scheduled for September 8 at the federal courthouse in San Jose.