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California and Santa Clara Seek Court Order to Stop Planned ICE Site Near Gilroy

The motion asks a court to halt all physical work on the leased property so a judge can decide if federal environmental review and state consultation are required.

Overview

  • State Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to block design, renovation, demolition, procurement, or construction at the 24.5-acre site leased to the federal government for ICE use.
  • The lawsuit alleges the lease and development proceeded without required environmental review under NEPA and without consultation required by federal intergovernmental law, creating legal grounds for an immediate pause.
  • Plaintiffs say building the Enforcement and Removal Operations site would threaten protected agricultural land, damage habitat, risk hazardous-material release, and overwhelm septic, drinking water, and local road infrastructure.
  • Marin County has announced it will join the effort by filing a supporting brief, and plaintiffs cite past investigative reports and litigation showing ERO offices can result in overcrowding and long detentions.
  • If the court grants the injunction it would halt construction and likely force supplemental environmental review and greater federal transparency, while a denial would leave plaintiffs to pursue the underlying statutory claims in ongoing litigation.