California attorney general and Santa Clara County officials sue to block ICE facility development

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KYMA, NBC) - California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti held a press conference Wednesday.

According to a press release, this was to announce a lawsuit against the Trump Administration in order to block the development of a new ICE facility in Santa Clara County.

The press release says Attorney General Bonta and County Counsel LoPresti are asking the "court to permanently enjoin construction of this facility," claiming "it violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and California's Williamson Act."

"President Trump's mass detention and deportation campaign has led to cruel, inhumane, and unacceptable conditions at immigration holding and detention facilities across California. But instead of working to improve conditions at these facilities — instead of enforcing ICE's own detention standards — the Trump Administration is trying to jam through a new facility on a community that doesn't want it," said Bonta. "Under this Administration, we've seen ICE offices have become mini-detention centers, despite being unequipped for long-term holding. That's unacceptable. So is the secrecy surrounding the details of this project. But one thing is clear: ICE's plans to construct a facility near Gilroy violates multiple federal laws. We're suing to stop this project and protect the interests of California communities."

"Since President Trump took office, the County of Santa Clara has made clear that we won't tolerate a federal government that abuses the law and jeopardizes the rights and well-being of our immigrant communities," said LoPresti. "We're proud to stand alongside Attorney General Bonta in opposing this reckless attempt to build an ICE facility on sensitive and protected land without regard to its impacts on the environment, the community, and, most critically, the humans who would be detained there."

To learn more about the lawsuit, click here. To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.