Gilroy, California Residents Protest New ICE Detention Centers

On July 3, a small group of about 20 people gathered at the Harkins Slough Road overcrossing to Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County to protest the federal government’s plan to build immigration detention facilities in Gilroy and Dublin, California. Protesters waved signs reading “ICE OUT OF GILROY” and coordinated simultaneous actions across 30 bridges in six Bay Area counties.

The proposed Gilroy site at 7240 Holsclaw Road is tied to a $26.5 million General Services Administration contract awarded in 2025 to a Beverly Hills‑based real‑estate firm that manages other ICE centers. Olivia Millard, co‑founder of Indivisible Pajaro Valley, warned that the new facilities could increase ICE activity in the region, while Sam Earnshaw of Aromas expressed opposition to what he called “fascism” in the United States.