Bill > AB1801

This bill strengthens the transparency and public review process required when local governments in California consider approving or permitting private facilities designed to house individuals for civil immigration custody, which refers to the federal detention of noncitizens for administrative immigration violations rather than criminal offenses. Building upon existing restrictions that prevent local agencies from entering into or expanding contracts for private immigration detention, the legislation prohibits cities, counties, and other public entities from executing land deeds, permits, or any other approval documents for building or repurposing structures for these detention facilities until strict public notice and comment procedures are completed. Specifically, the public entity must provide a 180-day advance notice—published online, physically posted, printed in local newspapers, and broadcast weekly on local radio stations in the area's top five spoken languages—and promptly grant access to related documents. Furthermore, the agency must hold at least two separate, specially noticed public meetings with translation services available, spaced at least 30 business days apart, to solicit and hear community feedback. Finally, the bill specifies that these requirements apply universally across the state, including to charter cities (which are municipalities governed by their own local charters rather than general state laws), declaring that public input on private detention centers is a matter of statewide concern rather than purely local jurisdiction.