Cities of Gilroy and Mountain View Advance Protections Restricting ICE Facility Construction

SAN JOSÉ, CA – Today, Congressmembers Sam Liccardo (CA-16) and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) congratulated the City of Gilroy and City of Mountain View for taking steps to keep ICE out of their communities.
“After plans for an ICE detention center just outside Gilroy were halted in federal court, local leaders are taking action to make it harder for ICE to construct future facilities,” said Rep. Liccardo . “By acting now, local leaders can protect the health and safety of their residents and restrict DHS should they attempt to convert industrial or commercial property into an ICE detention center. I thank Mayor Greg Bozzo, Mayor Emily Ann Ramos and the Gilroy and Mountain View City Councils for joining communities across our region in using their local authority to push back against ICE infrastructure in our community.”
On October 13, the Mountain View City Council adopted an interim urgency ordinance temporarily restricting new detention or custodial facilities. The action follows the Gilroy City Council's unanimous vote on October 5 to establish a 45-day moratorium on new detention facilities within city limits.
"I applaud the Cities of Gilroy and Mountain View for taking a stand in support of transparency, accountability, and the rule of law,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren . "These ordinances send a clear message that no law enforcement agency should be allowed to expand its power without first demonstrating that it follows the law. ICE has too often failed to adhere to the legal standards, policies, and procedures that govern every other law enforcement agency. Unless and until ICE complies with those requirements and is held to the same standards of accountability as all law enforcement, its detention capacity and authority should not be expanded."
“Mountain View has long been committed to protecting our diverse community, where nearly 43% of residents are foreign-born,” said Mountain View Mayor Emily Ann Ramos. “We listened to the concerns raised by many residents when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security planned to develop a proposed immigration detention and processing facility in Santa Clara County, just outside Gilroy, which was halted by a lawsuit. Thanks to Congressman Liccardo’s encouragement for cities to consider interim land use controls, our City Council has now adopted an emergency ordinance to place a temporary moratorium on detention or custodial facilities in Mountain View.”
“Gilroy’s future should reflect the values that define our community: care for one another, pride in our agricultural heritage, and a commitment to a safe, healthy, and thriving city,” Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo said. “Gilroy City Council members share our residents’ concerns about these types of facilities and their potential impacts on our future. By unanimously adopting this temporary moratorium, our Gilroy City Council has once again shown our commitment to those values and the long-term well-being of our community. I am thankful for Congressman Sam Liccardo's focus on real collaboration and his commitment to Gilroy's interests.”
Liccardo, who represents portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, released a toolkit in August to help local governments use zoning laws and building regulations to mitigate the expansion of ICE detention facilities and safeguard community health and safety. San Mateo County, Monterey County , The City of San José and Napa County have already advanced such ordinances. Several other city councils have now directed their staff to begin this process, and several more ordinance changes are in the pipeline.
Because county ordinances only govern unincorporated land, Liccardo encourages cities and towns throughout the region to adopt their own protections. Local leaders interested in introducing protections can utilize Liccardo’s ordinance toolkit or call his office at 408-245-2339 with questions.