Santa Clara County officials denounce proposed detention center
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Santa Clara County officials rallied Thursday to denounce the proposed detention center. It would be the only ICE detention center in the entire Bay Area.
News of a facility has rattled the Gilroy community. Many of them are immigrants who already don't trust the government.
They say ice is not welcome, and they'll do whatever they need to do to keep them out.
With signs in hand, a spirited group of community activists and elected officials gather outside the Santa Clara County offices in San Jose to protest what they believe is a plan to build a new ICE detention facility near Gilroy.
Federal records show the General Services Administration, which handles federal contracts for ICE and other agencies, leased 24 acres of land just east of Gilroy, for 20 years. The documents also suggest ICE has signed a contract with a developer.
Ken Christopher, a third generation garlic famer, employs more than 900 people, largely from hispanic backgrounds.
He says the rumored plans have caused fear and panic, mostly because no one knows much about it.
"The problem is confusion and that's the real problem. That's causing anxiety. It's causing anxiety. It's causing pain. It's causing fear because there's no clear answer," Christopher explained.
The county's lawyer, Tony Polestri, says the county is in the dark too.
"To our acknowledge, there's been no effort whatsoever to notice the county or any other local government that we're aware of," Polestri shared.
Public records show the government leased the land from Elmwood Capital Group out of Beverly hills.
The documents also suggest the agency may be planning to build a center, similar to one that closed in Stockton, where people would be held before being transferred to a larger detention center.
"There's still a lot of question marks right now," Polestri expressed.
"Our community should've had a voice in this. Our community should've had the opportunity to be part of the conversation right or wrong on the federal government's part. There should've been a conversation," Christopher added.
An NBC affiliate in the Bay Area reached out to Elmwood Capital, but have not heard back.
Polestri says they're exploring all their legal options and are ready to battle it out in court if needed.
