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Livermore residents urge council to oppose converting FCI Dublin to ICE detention center; council directs staff to coordinate with Dublin and Alameda County
Summary
Scores of Livermore residents urged the council to place a resolution opposing reopening FCI Dublin as an ICE detention facility. Council members asked staff to reach out to Dublin and Alameda County, explore meaningful steps the city can take, and report back on coordinated actions and federal engagement.
Dozens of Livermore residents used the council's public-comment periods on June 8 to urge the city to oppose any conversion of the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility.
Speakers from neighborhoods, faith communities, schools and service organizations said an ICE detention center nearby would chill participation in schools and workplaces, strain emergency and hospital resources, and create fear among immigrant residents. "With an ICE detention center 15 minutes away from our city, this will mean a significant increased presence of ICE officers in our community," Laura Weber said during the first public-comment block, urging council to adopt a future resolution opposing the change.
Other speakers recounted historical and local harms, called out environmental and remediation concerns at the Dublin site and described the potential economic impacts on Tri-Valley businesses. Douglas Oshida, an emergency physician, described medical-system strain and recounted historical mass incarcerations as a moral reason to oppose a new detention hub.
After hearing the public, council members discussed next steps and directed staff to coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions. Council Member Bing asked staff to contact the city of Dublin to see if Livermore could endorse Dublin's resolution and to identify what support Dublin and Alameda County might request. City Manager Mariana Burch confirmed staff would reach out to Dublin and Alameda County and also explore meaningful actions Livermore could take to protect residents and engage federal representatives where appropriate.
Council members emphasized the police department's position that the top priority is resident safety; staff said the city's communications and outreach functions would be used to engage underrepresented groups and coordinate responses.
No formal resolution was adopted that night; rather, the council's action was to task staff with intergovernmental coordination and to investigate legally effective options, including potential endorsement language, federal advocacy and community-support measures. Staff will return with recommendations and any proposed agenda language for council consideration.
