California’s Largest Migrant Detention Center Proposal Sparks Outrage
- Shan Potts
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In June 2025, ICE announced it would reopen a shuttered prison in California City and convert it into a 2,500-bed immigration detention center. This would make it California’s largest migrant detention center, managed by private prison corporation CoreCivic. The contract, awarded without bidding, begins with a $10 million federal investment under the justification of “urgent need.”
The project revives a facility that had previously closed due to reduced incarceration demand and public resistance to private detention operations. Despite California’s 2019 law banning private immigrant detention centers, a 2023 federal court ruling allows ICE to override that restriction through federal contracts.
Why California’s Largest Migrant Detention Center Proposal Alarms Advocates
The California’s Largest Migrant Detention Center Proposal is not just about infrastructure—it reflects a continued strategy to treat immigration through a punitive lens. Though ICE describes the plan as a response to capacity issues, civil liberties groups view it as an intentional expansion of detention infrastructure at the expense of due process.
The project revives concerns about the influence of private prison companies like CoreCivic on federal immigration policy. Critics argue that these corporations profit from migrant detention and are incentivized to increase incarceration rather than support humane alternatives.
The urgency clause used to bypass competitive bidding has also drawn scrutiny, as it limits oversight and public input—especially troubling for a facility of this scale.
What This Means for Migrant Communities
The proposal could result in more undocumented individuals being detained for longer periods, even when they pose no threat. Many of those who end up in detention centers are asylum seekers, long-time residents with deep community ties, or individuals with ongoing immigration proceedings who could otherwise be released on bond.
Local organizations, including the Dolores Huerta Foundation, have voiced concerns about family separation, the detention of vulnerable populations, and the long-term emotional impact on migrant communities. There is also fear that the center could disproportionately affect nearby Latino populations, making them more vulnerable to enforcement actions.
Shan Potts Law Offices' Perspective
From the perspective of Shan Potts Law Offices, the California’s Largest Migrant Detention Center Proposal raises serious legal and moral concerns. Our office frequently represents detained individuals, and we see the devastating impact of prolonged detention on families, mental health, and due process rights.
More detention beds mean more lives in limbo. This project could worsen case backlogs, restrict access to legal counsel, and increase reliance on high-bond amounts to secure release. It diverts public resources toward incarceration instead of investing in community-based alternatives.
We advocate for fair hearings, bond eligibility reviews, and alternatives to detention that respect human dignity.
Next Steps – How Communities and Attorneys Can Respond
Community members should attend upcoming California City council meetings and demand full transparency on the project’s scope and timeline. Pressure on state and federal officials will be crucial to push back on this expansion.
Legal advocates must also prepare to challenge prolonged detentions, seek class action relief where applicable, and explore legal remedies to resist the facility’s long-term use.
At Shan Potts Law Offices, we will continue to provide strategic legal defense for detainees, advocate for immigration reform, and ensure that no one faces the system alone.
(Soucre: San Francisco Chronicle)
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