MONTEREY COUNTY — King City, Soledad and Gonzales have joined the County of Monterey in a regional legal effort challenging the planned construction of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in neighboring Santa Clara County.
Monterey County Board of Supervisors recently authorized the county to join an amicus brief, or “friend of the court” filing, opposing the proposed ICE facility near Gilroy. The county said it helped organize a coalition of 26 cities and counties from across the Bay Area and Central Coast to challenge the project.
The coalition argues the facility would disrupt local operations, erode trust in public health and law enforcement, and undermine local zoning and governance.
“Monterey County will not stand by silently when federal actions threaten the safety, stability and trust of our families,” said Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, board chair. “Our Board voted with overwhelming conviction to lead this effort because protecting our immigrant neighbors is not just a Santa Clara County issue; it is a regional priority. By uniting 26 cities and counties, we are sending an undeniable message that local autonomy and community trust cannot be sidelined by federal enforcement mandates.”
The cities of Gonzales, King City and Soledad were among the local signatories joining Monterey County’s coalition, along with the counties of Santa Cruz and San Benito and cities including Salinas, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Hollister, Monterey and Marina.
The proposed facility is planned in unincorporated Santa Clara County near Gilroy. Local officials and community groups have opposed the project, citing concerns about its impact on immigrant communities and local resources.
Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez said the city’s participation reflects the community’s concerns about the potential effects of the facility.
“As Mayor, I was honored to bring this item forward to the City Council, and I’m grateful for their support,” Velazquez wrote in a July 30 social media post. “Local leaders have a responsibility to speak up when federal actions directly impact the safety, well-being and economic stability of our communities.”
Velazquez said Soledad is home to immigrant families who have contributed to the community for generations.
“Soledad is home to hardworking immigrant families, many who have lived here for generations, work in agriculture, own businesses, raise their children here, and strengthen our community every day,” she wrote. “Many are also part of mixed-status families living with the fear of separation.”
The County of Monterey said the amicus brief was authored by the Public Rights Project, an organization that works with local governments on civil rights issues.
The effort comes as state and federal officials continue to push back against the proposed detention center. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Santa Clara County previously filed a lawsuit seeking to block the project, alleging federal officials advanced plans for the facility without complying with state environmental laws or notifying local governments.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, whose district includes much of the Central Coast, also spoke out against the project during a July 29 press conference in San Jose.
“This fight is about far more than one detention center,” Rivas said. “It’s about whether we will allow fear to replace our values as Californians. We will continue to speak out, and we will continue to fight this ICE detention center until it is defeated.”
U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who represents California’s 18th Congressional District including Gilroy and the Salinas Valley, also said she would continue opposing the proposed facility.
“I’ve proposed amendments in Congress to block new detention center construction, and I’ll continue fighting to ensure that ICE’s lawlessness is reined in,” Lofgren said in a July 30 statement.
The County of Monterey said the coalition’s legal filing represents “the collective voice of millions of Northern California residents” as the case moves forward.
