Tell the Governor: Stop FCI Dublin Detention Expansion

Our allies at Bay Resistance are asking Indivisible SF members to reach out to more state officials to oppose the reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center.

Use the script below to contact the following:

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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 Push to Reopen FCI Dublin as an ICE Detention Center

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].

ICE Detention Data

The Trump regime’s stated goal of 1 million deportations annually will triple the immigration detention system’s current official capacity [12]. The most recent ICE detention data shows the average number of people held has gone up 25% since Trump took office [13]. As of early June about 51,000 undocumented migrants were in ICE detention [14]. A recent editorial in the SF Chronicle highlights the need to permanently close FCI Dublin [15].

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].

Sources and References (links to articles)

[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 

[11] Over 100 Survivors of Staff Sexual Violence at FCI Dublin Reach ... https://rbgg.com/over-100-survivors-of-staff-sexual-violence-at-fci-dublin-reach-historic-115m-settlement-with-bureau-of-prisons/ 

Immigrants at Shuttered Prison

[12] In First 100 Days, Trump 2.0 Has Dramatically Reshaped the U.S. Immigration System, but Is Not Meeting Mass Deportation Aims https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trump-2-immigration-first-100-days

[13] What the Data Reveals About Trump’s Push to Arrest and Deport More Migrants https://time.com/7292939/trump-deportations-ice-arrests/

[14]  Who has been arrested by ICE under Trump? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86p821p660o

[15] I helped care for FCI Dublin victims. Trump’s plan to reopen the prison for ICE is horrifying https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/ice-fci-dublin-prison-20372680.php

State Level, Senate, Governor, Top ActionL Areproductive healthcare, reproductive health, abortion, Planned Parenthood, budget, Budget Reconciliation