On Friday, a federal judge ordered ICE to halt the construction on a planned detention facility after the state and Santa Clara County sued to block it on environmental grounds. In her ruling, the judge said that ICE failed to study potential environmental pollution at the planned detention cente r and offered no proof that meaningful environmental analysis was conducted before starting construction. Those who oppose the facility are calling this a major victory. “It’s so redeeming because our community deserves better, our community does not want this in Gilroy, and so to hear that the judge aligns with us and knows that it is not the right fit for here or anywhere for that matter, it feels great,” Rebeca Armendariz with the ICE Out Of Gilroy Coalition said. Armendariz has been against the proposed detention facility since day one. Gilroy Sep 8 Judge extends construction pause on proposed Gilroy ICE facility Gilroy Sep 8 Rally planned ahead of federal hearing over proposed Gilroy ICE facility According to court records, if built, the facility on the 24-acre parcel near Gilroy could hold as many as 120 people a day. The state and Santa Clara County joined forces in a legal battle to block construction of the detention center based on environmental concerns, including possible hazardous materials and an inadequate septic system. The judge’s ruling means all construction must now stop. In a statement, Santa Clara County Counsel Tony Lo Presti said, “We’re hopeful the court’s ruling sends a clear message that this is the wrong process and the wrong place for this facility.” Attorney General Rob Bonta said, “The Trump administration tried to rush construction of this facility in secret, ignoring environmental safeguards and shutting out the communities that would bear the consequences.” Last week, before a federal hearing on the center in San Jose, some 200 people spoke out against the proposed facility. State Assemblyman Ash Kalra says the judge’s ruling is a promising sign the center’s future is in jeopardy. “I think that the county and the state are on very strong footing, and so my belief is that there will be a permanent injunction put in place, and we hope it will permanently shut down this project,” Kalra said. NBC Bay Area reached out to ICE for a comment on the judge’s ruling, but have not received a response. ...read more read less