ICE Plans New Detention Center Near San Francisco, Raising Concerns

Federal efforts to expand immigration detention in Northern California face opposition from advocates and state lawmakers, but legal barriers may limit the state's ability to intervene.

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking a new detention facility within two hours of San Francisco, as part of a broader effort to expand detention capacity in the Western United States.
• The proposed facility would house 850 to 950 detainees and could be operated by private or public entities, continuing ICE's reliance on private prison companies in California.
• Advocates and lawmakers warn that expanding detention centers could lead to increased deportations, family separations, and potential human rights abuses, citing past issues in existing facilities.
• A 2019 California law banning private immigration detention centers was overturned by a federal court, limiting the state's ability to block such facilities under federal jurisdiction.
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta and advocacy groups, including the ACLU, have expressed concerns about the social and economic impacts of increased detention capacity in the state.

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