Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), along with Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), raised the alarm on steps the Trump Administration is taking to potentially reopen Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin as an immigration detention facility. FCI Dublin has been formally closed since December 2024 after a history of sexual abuse, improper staffing, and infrastructure risk.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers expressed deep concern with reopening FCI Dublin for any purpose, including as an immigration detention facility, in order to advance the Trump Administration’s mass detention and deportation agenda.  

“The [Bureau of Prisons (BOP)] also attributed FCI Dublin’s closure to staff retention and extreme infrastructure issues, including repeatedly ignored complaints of mold and asbestos. Union leaders representing FCI Dublin employees have detailed the unsafe and dangerous conditions of the facility, and former BOP Acting Director Lothrop has emphasized the need for ‘tens of millions of dollars’ in repairs before it can be safely used. FCI Dublin, which was built over fifty years ago, is clearly not fit to hold detainees or staff,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“In light of the facility’s state of disrepair and the inexcusable systemic failures highlighted by its history, we are concerned and alarmed that [Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)] officials are reportedly considering the use of this facility for immigration detention. Local reporting confirms that ICE officials toured FCI Dublin last year amid the increased use of BOP facilities as immigration detention centers,” continued the lawmakers.

The lawmakers also emphasized that the City of Dublin unanimously voted against reopening FCI Dublin for any purpose, heightening the need for DHS to reconsider any steps to reopen this facility and “how the vibrant and diverse community and visitors of Dublin City could be negatively affected by an immigration detention facility.” 

Senator Padilla has strongly opposed President Trump’s cruel and indiscriminate mass deportation agenda and denial of basic services for detained individuals. Last month, Senators Padilla and Schiff conducted an oversight visit to the largest detention center in California, located in California City, to learn firsthand of the concerns surrounding the inhumane conditions detained individuals are facing at the private, for-profit facility. The Senators investigated reports of unsanitary and unsafe facility conditions, inadequate medical and mental health care, insufficient access to legal counsel, a severe lack of accommodations for people with disabilities, and the unnecessary use of solitary confinement.

Yesterday, Padilla joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and 20 other Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on the dramatic increase in deaths in ICE detention, with over 30 deaths since the start of the Trump Administration. In January, Padilla joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in introducing the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to end the use of private, for-profit detention facilities, prohibit the practice of detaining families, and ensure due process for detained individuals. Last year, Padilla cosponsored the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, a bill to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows detained noncitizens to contact legal counsel and their families.

Full text of the letter can is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Noem:

We are writing to express deep concern with and strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) reported consideration of Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin (FCI Dublin) as an immigration detention facility. FCI Dublin, which has been formally closed since December 2024, is not suitable to be reopened for any purpose and would endanger the lives of both detainees and staff.

Located on the grounds of Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, a U.S. Army base housing active military, FCI Dublin was formerly one of six women-only facilities in the federal prison system. The low-security facility was shuttered following federal investigations into its “toxic culture” that perpetuated the rampant sexual abuse of inmates by the facility’s staff—including the warden. Ten former correctional officers have been charged by the Department of Justice for sexual abuse crimes committed at FCI Dublin, which was referred to as “Rape Club” by employees.

The BOP also attributed FCI Dublin’s closure to staff retention and extreme infrastructure issues, including repeatedly ignored complaints of mold and asbestos. Union leaders representing FCI Dublin employees have detailed the unsafe and dangerous conditions of the facility, and former BOP Acting Director Lothrop has emphasized the need for “tens of millions of dollars” in repairs before it can be safely used. FCI Dublin, which was built over fifty years ago, is clearly not fit to hold detainees or staff.

In light of the facility’s state of disrepair and the inexcusable systemic failures highlighted by its history, we are concerned and alarmed that ICE officials are reportedly considering the use of this facility for immigration detention. Local reporting confirms that ICE officials toured FCI Dublin last year amid the increased use of BOP facilities as immigration detention centers.

Although Director William K. Marshall III reportedly guaranteed that there are no plans to transfer use of FCI Dublin’s facilities to ICE, President Trump’s mass deportation agenda coupled with reporting that indicates ICE’s interest in the facility have left us gravely concerned that this facility could be utilized to detain individuals in unsafe conditions. Furthermore, the City of Dublin unanimously voted against reopening FCI Dublin for any purpose, including as an immigration detention facility. Therefore, we are deeply concerned about how the vibrant and diverse community and visitors of Dublin City could be negatively affected by an immigration detention facility.

Therefore, we request that your office reply to the following questions by February 27, 2026:

1. Is ICE considering or has ICE previously considered the use of FCI Dublin as an immigration detention center?

a. Has ICE or any other DHS agency conducted a cost analysis, toured the closed facility, or received briefings on what would be required to open this facility as an immigration detention center?

b. If so, what repairs and improvements would be necessary to ensure that the facility is safe for detainees and staff?

c. What are the costs of these repairs and improvements?

2. How is ICE evaluating the effects on the community and its residents, including safety impacts, related to having an immigration detention facility in the City of Dublin?

3. Does the agency intend to receive direct community feedback through town hall meetings or similar forums?

We are opposed to the use of FCI Dublin for any purpose, including as an immigration detention facility. Thank you for your prompt responses to these questions.

Sincerely,

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