Representatives DeSaulnier and Lofgren and Senators Padilla and Schiff Voice Opposition to Any Reopening of Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), along with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that they led a public comment letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) highlighting significant environmental and safety concerns at FCI Dublin in Dublin, California and voicing strong opposition to the reopening of FCI Dublin to detain noncitizens. This public comment comes after BOP released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of FCI Dublin as part of efforts to permanently deactivate and close the facility.

In the letter, the members wrote, "We support the decision to permanently close FCI Dublin and recognize the EA's findings that the property is unsafe, environmentally compromised, and would require substantial public investment to restore it to habitable condition. At the same time, although the EA evaluates the impacts of BOP ceasing operations at the facility, identifying numerous significant environmental hazards and unresolved contamination concerns, it does not sufficiently assess what is reasonably foreseeable to occur after closure, including continued vacancy, transfer, redevelopment, demolition, or repurposing of the site. Nor does it adequately address the environmental and public health implications associated with those potential outcomes.

Given the substantial evidence of contamination, environmental degradation, and unresolved data gaps identified throughout the EA, it would be irresponsible and scientifically unsound for BOP to proceed to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) without additional environmental review and mitigation planning. Instead, due to previously stated reasons, as well as the long history of staff sexual misconduct at the facility, we support demolishing FCI Dublin. We also strongly oppose any efforts to transfer ownership of the facility to an entity that will utilize it for immigration detention."

In addition to requesting that the BOP address deficiencies in the report, the Members urged that, "[t]o ensure that the proposed action complies with NEPA and adequately protects public health and environmental safety, we respectfully urge BOP to:

• Pause the current timeline for issuance of any Finding of No Significant Impact pending additional environmental review;
• Conduct further environmental investigation regarding unresolved contamination concerns, including unexploded ordnance, radiological hazards, underground storage tanks, and sewer system contamination;
• Prepare a comprehensive Mitigation Action Plan addressing demolition, remediation, containment, and long-term environmental monitoring;
• Fully analyze reasonably foreseeable post-closure outcomes, including prolonged vacancy, transfer, redevelopment, demolition, or repurposing of the facility;
• Evaluate the potential environmental and community impacts associated with future reuse of the site, including potential conversion to another detention facility or immigration detention center; and
• Evaluate demolition of the facility and full remediation of the property as a reasonable alternative under NEPA."

The full text of the letter can be found here. The letter was also signed by Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Dave Min (CA-47), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-At Large), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Brad Sherman (CA-30), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12).

FCI Dublin is located in the district that Congressman DeSaulnier represents. Congressman DeSaulnier has also previously acted on behalf of those who have experienced and witnessed abuse at the facility by sending a letter to the BOP demanding answers and accountability, meeting with attorneys representing inmates at the facility and hearing from whistleblowers, visiting the facility to see the conditions firsthand, and sending a letter urging FCI Dublin to immediately fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide meaningful access to legal counsel and provide essential healthcare services to inmates who suffered from serious sexual abuse. Congressman DeSaulnier also sent a letter to then-Attorney General Garland regarding the closure of FCI Dublin and Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) implementation at the facility, and urged the House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees to investigate and hold hearings on the recent closure and transfer of inmates from FCI Dublin, the facility's past pervasive culture of abuse, and the treatment of inmates at BOP facilities more broadly as such action is essential to answer outstanding questions and provide much-needed oversight of BOP.