The news first broke back in February, from LA times magazine. Allegedly, ICE agents were given a tour of the old women’s prison at FCI Dublin after the building’s closure back in December 2024. The news sparked much controversy since its release, and finally in a City Council meeting on December 16th, 2025, the Dublin City Council addressed these claims and formally opened a suggestion of writing a Resolution Formally Opposing the Reopening of the Federal Correctional Institution Dublin for Any Future Detention or Correctional Operations to the public. During this meeting, public voices were heard from both sides regarding the proposition, and over 30 voices were heard by the Dublin council with a large number of anti-ice protests lining up along the staircase of the Dublin Civic center. This place in time marks a historical moment in our community’s recent history. 

Dublin High School Junior, Ruilin Chen, was one of the first public speakers at this event. She urged the Dublin council to vote for this resolution and emphasized the stress of the community that would be caused if ICE was allowed to roam the streets of Dublin. She talked to the council members about how students already experience too many home, family, and school struggles. To add to the stress of life with the opening of an ICE department in Dublin would further distress students and the community. Ruilin further emphasized what the facility available should be used for instead:a place for community building.  It’s time for Dublin to move away from discrimination to community building and housing prisons to come to an end. 

Many other complaints from the public followed much of the same topics. Most common complaints include the various kidnappings committed by ICE Agents without proper due process, and to build up on a community of immigrants and embrace diversity. Some speakers took time out of their speech to thank Vice Mayor and Dublin High volunteer Jean Josey for her courage to propose this resolution. A select few,however, disagreed with said bill, with Mike Grant questioning the legality of immigrants and stressed the duty of the city council to stay out of national affairs and time for Dublin to stay local. 

One of the things that makes Dublin such an interesting and joyful place to be is its welcoming nature to those of all cultures and backgrounds. Diversity is exactly what makes our city so strong, and allowing ICE to enter the picture would increase the risk to a divided community. By passing the Resolution at the December city council meeting, our town leaders have given us a push is the right direction to maintaining our safe and diverse city. Many ICE arrests in our country these past few months have been dangerous, illegal, and downright terrifying. Communities afflicted by ICE invasions have had serious backlashes, and we need to protect our own city from these illegal actions, even if it means interfering with national affairs.