A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking construction of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in unincorporated Santa Clara County near Gilroy, California. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the federal government violated federal and state law by constructing the facility without required environmental review or consultation with state and local governments.
The federal government leased a 24.5-acre parcel in January 2025 and began building rapidly without transparency, bypassing environmental review requirements, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. The state and Santa Clara County filed the lawsuit in June 2026 after ICE agreed to pause construction until September 9. The court has ordered the parties to submit a proposed order on the scope of the injunction by September 30.
The lawsuit contends the construction violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and California's Williamson Act. County officials said the facility was being built on sensitive agricultural land protected since the 1960s and lacks infrastructure to support detention operations. They also warn the construction threatens to release hazardous materials and disrupt ecosystems.
"No one is above the law — not even the federal government," Bonta said. "This ruling sends a clear message: California will hold the federal government accountable and protect our communities, our environment, and the rule of law."