ICE Will No Longer Hold Immigrants at Yuba County Jail

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer house detainees at the Yuba County Jail, the Sacramento Bee reports. ICE has decided to end the long-running contract with Yuba officials, which was the last of its kind in California.

The federal government’s decision follows years of complaints over poor conditions at the jail and pleas from immigrant activists to end the agreement. There are currently four immigrants in custody at the jail awaiting deportation.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) says the Yuba County Jail has long failed to meet ICE’s detention standards. She was one of two dozen lawmakers who formally called on ICE to tear up the contract last year.

“ICE has made the proper decision to terminate its contract with the Yuba County Jail,” she said. “The facility consistently failed to meet ICE’s own detention standards (PDF) and was a waste of federal funds.”  

The move will have an economic impact on the county. Yuba’s contract with ICE is valued at $8.7 million per year.