The site of the former Federal Correctional Institution Dublin, a women’s prison that operated from 1974 to 2024, may reopen — but not as a prison. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has shown interest in converting the facility into an immigrant detention center.
FCI Dublin closed after decades of reported abuses, including sexual abuse by guards and unsafe conditions such as black mold and asbestos. Beyond the physical risks, community members worry about the psychological toll on locals who could be affected by increased arrests and enforcement activity.
Bay Resistance, a local activist group, has been leading the opposition. The organization’s mission is to advance racial, economic, climate and gender justice while defending communities under threat. Its efforts have focused on outreach, education and mobilization, emphasizing that protecting vulnerable communities is a shared responsibility.
Amanda Berger, a member of Bay Resistance, said the potential reopening is concerning.
“My biggest hope for it is that it will just stay closed and empty,” she said, adding that leaving the facility unused would avoid repeating past abuses and prevent the community from experiencing further trauma.
“It has 1,000 beds, and our understanding from the research we’ve done is that when you open up a detention facility the arrests in the area also increase,” Berger said.
News of the former prison’s potential reopening has already affected local residents emotionally.
“People are just expressing a tremendous amount of anxiety, depression and fear. There’s a lot of people who aren’t going to work, they’re not going to school and they’re even afraid to go to the grocery store,” she said.
Berger also stressed the personal connections many community members have to those who are being affected.
“Immigrants who are feeling fearful and being picked up right now are actually my neighbors, and I really care about them,” she said.
Her comments highlight the broader human impact of federal policy decisions.
Bay Resistance has been canvassing downtown Pleasanton to educate residents and encourage public action. Julian, a young activist whose father is an immigrant, spent time passing out flyers and speaking with locals. He emphasized the importance of youth involvement in activism, especially in times of political tension.
“I think it’s important to get young people out canvassing and talking to people and just politically involved in general, because I know a lot of young people are depressed about the state of the world,” he said.
He also spoke about the power of truth in activism.
“Oh man, if I had to send a message to the people up top, I would say that the truth, it’ll always come to light. It’ll set you free and it’s going to set the people and this country free,” Julian said.
The proposal has clear ripple effects for students at Las Positas and the surrounding community.
“In my dream world, it would be turned into a community center or youth center or workforce development center,” Berger said.
The debate over FCI Dublin is part of a larger conversation about justice, accountability and civic engagement. Julian highlighted the role of public awareness in shaping outcomes.
“You can see it in stuff like Israel — consensus has changed, because you can’t hide the truth from people for so long,” he said.
Through canvassing, petition drives and public discussions, local activists hope to influence decisions about the site and protect residents from policies they see as harmful.
For now, the community is watching closely. The proposal to reopen FCI Dublin has sparked fear, activism and dialogue about alternatives. Whether the site becomes a detention facility or a hub for positive community programs will depend on the efforts of local leaders, activists and residents.
Many residents hope that Dublin’s former prison can be transformed into a space that benefits students, neighbors and the community as a whole.
According to Bay Resistance, if the space were to become a community center or park, it could provide a lasting, positive legacy in contrast to its past, while strengthening local engagement and offering opportunities for students and families to connect, learn and grow.
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TOP PHOTO: Amanda Berger and Penny Rosenwasser speak together at an ICE Protest on Sept.20. Both volunteered with Bay Resistance, speaking out for human rights. (Photo by Milo Jones/The Express)
Andrew Branham is a staff writer for The Express.
