Mountain View’s city council joined the city of Gilroy in opposing the planned construction of a nearby ICE facility, passing an interim urgency ordinance at its Oct. 13 meeting.
Several community members spoke in support of the ordinance, pointing to unjust treatment experienced by detainees held at similar facilities and a need to protect immigrant populations.
“Years ago, as a community organizer, I stood outside an immigration detention facility in San Diego. I could hear parents yelling inside, yelling for help and begging to see their children,” said community leader and Mountain View council candidate Erik Poicon. “I have never forgotten those voices.”
Preventing the construction of these detention facilities is about more than preventing the construction of a simple building, Poicon added.
“It’s about people, parents, children and families trying to stay together,” he said.
Poicon, among others, said that recent federal anti-immigration sweeps have placed immigrants in a particularly vulnerable position, and that action must be taken to protect these communities.
“The primary reason why the Bay Area has not been the target of mass immigration raids that have occurred in other cities, including Los Angeles, is simple. The Bay Area does not have a large-scale detention facility,” said South Bay land-use attorney Cara Silver. “It is necessary for Mountain View and all cities in the Bay Area to update their zoning codes to prohibit the construction of detention facilities.”
Taking action to prevent local construction of such facilities protects South Bay immigrant communities, Silver added.
The planned Santa Clara County ICE facility was first outlined in February of 2026, with the intention of being fully operational by late November of the same year.
The project was partially halted by a lawsuit in early summer, which noted the need for environmental review and consultation with nearby city and state governments. This resulted in a temporary block, granted by a federal judge in September.
“Mountain View has long been committed to protecting our diverse community, where nearly 43% of residents are foreign-born,” said Mountain View Mayor Emily Ann Ramos.
After coordination with Mountain View’s community development department, the city attorney’s office presented the emergency ordinance in order to address language in the city’s zoning laws which could allow for interim incarceration facilities, said Senior Assistant City Attorney Mitesh Bhakta.
Bhakta also noted efforts to coordinate and communicate with neighboring communities.
Ramos pointed to a zoning and building regulation toolkit released by Congressman Sam Liccardo in August 2026 which encouraged municipal governments to maintain and exercise their authority in regard to federal projects. Liccardo represents portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
To read Mountain View’s interim ordinance, see wklys.co/ice-ord.
