Santa Clara County Leaders Mobilize Against ICE Detention Center and Boost Immigrant Legal Aid

Faith leaders in Santa Clara County raised $15,000 from more than 120 donors to fund immigration legal defense services, with money split between Amigos de Guadalupe Center for Justice and Empowerment and the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County. The fundraiser aims to offset San Jose’s budget cuts that halved city funding for immigration defense and to support families facing detention and deportation.

County officials, community organizers and residents gathered in San Jose to protest a federal plan to build an ICE detention facility on an agricultural parcel near Gilroy. The General Services Administration awarded a $26.5 million contract to a firm linked to Elmwood Capital Group for the 7240 Holsclaw Road site, which county officials say violates local zoning rules. Santa Clara County Executive James Williams and County Counsel Tony LoPresti vowed to challenge the project in court and on the streets, citing concerns that the location sits in a flood zone, lacks sewer and water connections, and would expand federal enforcement against immigrant families.