Activists Rally to Prevent Reopening of Notorious Dublin Prison as ICE Detention Center

Community members and survivors of abuse at the former federal prison are mobilizing to keep ICE from taking over the facility.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kendra Drysdale and other formerly incarcerated women who were sexually assaulted at the now-closed Federal Correctional Institution Dublin are leading a community effort to prevent the facility from being reopened as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. The prison, previously known as the "rape club" for rampant sexual abuse, closed in 2024 after over 200 women sued over the mistreatment. However, news that ICE had toured the facility has sparked a renewed fight by local residents, advocates, and survivors to keep the prison shuttered and prevent ICE from establishing a presence in the Bay Area.

Why it matters

The potential reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center has alarmed the local community, which has successfully organized to end ICE contracts with other nearby jails and prisons over the past decade. Activists fear that an ICE facility in the region could lead to increased immigration enforcement and detentions, undoing the progress made in limiting ICE's reach in Northern California.

The details

In February 2025, news broke that ICE had toured FCI Dublin, prompting the formation of the ICE out of Dublin Coalition. The coalition, which includes dozens of local and regional groups, has worked to inform the community about the dangers of an ICE takeover and successfully lobbied the Dublin City Council to pass a resolution opposing the facility's reopening. Survivors like Kendra Drysdale have been speaking out about the rampant sexual abuse and poor conditions that existed at the prison when it was operational. The coalition is now pushing for transparency from the federal government and calling on local elected officials to take a stand against any ICE presence.

  • In April 2024, FCI Dublin closed after years of reports of sexual assault, unsafe conditions, and medical neglect.
  • In February 2025, news broke that ICE had toured the facility, sparking the formation of the ICE out of Dublin Coalition.
  • In December 2025, the Dublin City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the facility's reopening as an ICE detention center.

The players

Kendra Drysdale

A formerly incarcerated woman who was sexually assaulted at FCI Dublin and is now a leader in the effort to prevent the prison from being reopened as an ICE detention center.

ICE out of Dublin Coalition

A coalition of dozens of local and regional groups that formed to organize the community against the potential reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE facility.

Dublin City Council

The local governing body that unanimously passed a resolution in December 2025 opposing the reopening of FCI Dublin as an ICE detention center.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“In FCI Dublin, it was sort of a normalized culture of abuse, with immigrants being more targeted than anyone else because of their vulnerable status.”

— Kendra Drysdale (znetwork.org)

“I think that folks recognize that there have been less ICE arrests in Northern California because there's no ICE detention centers in Northern California, and that's the result of organizing over the course of the last decade to end any ICE contract.”

— Alex Mensing, Communications Manager, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice (znetwork.org)

“It's chaotic when ICE comes; look at Minneapolis. People don't want that. They want to be able to live their lives without being afraid of being swept up in something or accidentally in the wrong spot at the wrong time and shot. It's a very basic idea of being safe in your community.”

— Elizabeth Schmitt, Bay Area Resident and Activist (znetwork.org)

What’s next

The ICE out of Dublin coalition is calling for transparency from the federal government on the timeline and plans for the facility, and is working to get the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to issue a statement opposing the prison's reopening as an ICE detention center. The coalition also plans to continue holding regular rallies and educating the community.

The takeaway

The fight to keep FCI Dublin from being reopened as an ICE detention center highlights the broader efforts by Bay Area communities to limit the expansion of immigration enforcement in the region. Survivors of abuse at the former federal prison are leading the charge, determined to prevent others from enduring the same trauma they experienced and to maintain Northern California's status as a relative safe haven from aggressive ICE tactics.