Tell Your Elected Officials to Publicly Oppose the Reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE Detention Center
Call your Governor and your State Senator.
Call your Mayor.
Call ONE of the Supervisors. Note: only one of these Supervisors represents you. Find out which one here.
Call Script
My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. I am a member of Indivisible SF.
I’m calling to urge [Representative’s Name] to publicly oppose the reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center. ICE has shown serious interest in reopening this notorious facility and which will affect our Bay Area communities.
Pick one or more of the following talking points:
The facility was closed last year after years of survivor-led organizing exposed horrific staff sexual abuse, retaliation, and medical neglect. The facility is unsafe, with mold, asbestos, and a crumbling infrastructure.
Before its closure, non-citizens at FCI Dublin were specifically targeted because of their immigration status. Transferring to a facility with a documented history of abuse to ICE, an agency with its own record of mistreatment, would be a disaster for our community.
Research shows that opening detention centers leads to increased ICE activity and arrests in surrounding areas, making our community less safe. In recent years, three Northern California ICE detention centers have been closed, making the region safer for everyone.
I urge Representative’s Name to take a public stand: oppose the reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center and support its permanent closure.
Background
The Notorious Legacy of FCI Dublin
The Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, located near San Francisco, has become infamous nationwide for its history of rampant sexual abuse and unsafe conditions. Dubbed the “rape club” by both incarcerated women and staff, the facility was the subject of lawsuits, whistleblower reports, and federal investigations that revealed a culture of sexual violence, retaliation, and medical neglect[4][6][8]. Between 2021 and 2024, at least eight staff members-including the former warden and chaplain-were charged or convicted of sexually abusing inmates, while survivors reported a climate of intimidation and cover-ups that persisted for years[8][9][10].
In addition to the abuse, the physical state of FCI Dublin was dire. Inspections and lawsuits documented toxic mold, asbestos, sewage leaks, and crumbling infrastructure, leading a court to rule the prison unfit for habitation[4][5][7]. Staff and survivors alike described daily exposure to hazardous materials, with attempts at remediation often making conditions worse[4].
Closure and Historic Settlements
Amid mounting public pressure and survivor-led organizing, FCI Dublin was closed in April 2024. The closure followed a federal judge’s intervention and the appointment of a special master to address the prison’s dysfunctional and abusive culture[7]. In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to a historic $116 million settlement with over 100 survivors of sexual abuse at FCI Dublin-the largest such settlement in U.S. prison history[3][6][8][9]. The settlement also mandated sweeping reforms and public acknowledgment of the abuse, with ongoing court oversight to protect the rights of former inmates[6][9].
ICE Interest and Community Concerns
Despite the closure, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has signaled serious interest in repurposing FCI Dublin as an immigration detention center[1][2][4][5]. Federal documents and union communications confirm that ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have assessed the facility for potential use, as part of a broader push to expand detention capacity amid heightened immigration enforcement[2][4][7]. This move is part of a national trend, with other shuttered federal prisons in cities like Miami, Atlanta, and Philadelphia being converted for ICE use[2][4][7].
Local advocates, survivors, and elected officials have strongly opposed this plan. They argue that reopening FCI Dublin for ICE would expose a new population-largely non-citizens and immigrants-to the same toxic environment and risk of abuse that led to the prison’s closure[5][7]. Prior to shutdown, non-citizen inmates at FCI Dublin were specifically targeted by staff because of their immigration status, making the prospect of ICE detention at the site especially alarming[5][10].
Broader Implications for Immigrant Communities
Research shows that opening immigration detention centers leads to increased ICE activity and arrests in surrounding communities, heightening fear and insecurity among immigrants[5]. From 2018 to 2023, community organizing led to the closure of three Northern California ICE detention centers, making the region safer for all residents[5]. Reopening FCI Dublin as an ICE facility would reverse this progress and reintroduce the risk of detention and deportation for local immigrant families[1][5].
Calls for Permanent Closure
Survivors, advocates, and organizations like the California Coalition for Women Prisoners are calling for the permanent closure of FCI Dublin and urging public officials to block its conversion into an ICE detention center[1][5][10]. They emphasize that handing over a facility with a well-documented history of abuse to another agency with its own record of mistreatment is a “recipe for disaster.” Instead, they demand investments in community safety and alternatives to detention, not a return to incarceration in a facility synonymous with trauma and neglect[5][7].
Conclusion
The fight over FCI Dublin’s future is a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, prison conditions, and accountability for institutional abuse. As ICE eyes the shuttered prison for new use, survivors and community members are mobilizing to ensure that the horrors of FCI Dublin are not repeated-and that the facility remains closed for good[1][5][7].
References
[1] ICE out of Dublin: No new ICE Detention Center in Shuttered Federal Dublin Prison (FCI Dublin) https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/iceoutofdublin/
[2] Trump administration may send immigrants to Bay Area 'rape club' prison, email shows https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-12/trump-administration-immigrants-dublin-federal-prison
[3] Bureau of Prisons to pay $116M to more than 100 FCI Dublin sex ... https://www.ktvu.com/news/bureau-prisons-pay-115m-more-than-100-fci-dublin-sex-assault-survivors
[4] ICE eyes takeover FCI Dublin despite toxic conditions - El Tecolote https://eltecolote.org/content/en/ice-fci-dublin-immigrant-detention/
[5] DOJ Reaches Nearly $116M Historic Settlement With 103 Survivors ... https://nwlc.org/press-release/doj-reaches-historic-116m-settlement-with-103-survivors-of-sexual-abuse-at-fci-dublin-prison/
[6] ICE officials visit FCI Dublin amid fears it may be used as detention ... https://www.ktvu.com/news/prison-union-concerned-fci-dublin-could-be-turned-ice-detention-center
[7] U.S. to pay $116M settlement over rampant sexual abuse in Calif ... https://www.npr.org/2024/12/17/nx-s1-5232193/federal-prison-california-sexual-abuse-settlement
[8] US to pay $116M to settle sexual abuse lawsuits at FCI Dublin ... https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/fci-dublin-sexual-abuse-us-116m-lawsuit-settlements/
[9] California Coalition for Women Prisoners, et. al. v. United States of ... https://www.rightsbehindbars.org/cases/california-coalition-for-women-prisoners-et-al-v-united-states-of-america-federal-bureau-of-prisons-et-al
[10] Feds probe rampant sexual abuse of women in two California prisons https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-04/feds-probe-rampant-sexual-abuse-of-women-in-california-prisons