Concord residents cheer news of no planned immigrant detention center

Concord community members speak out against the rumored plan to house tens of thousands of immigrant detainees at the city's Naval Weapons Station. Concord community members speak out against the rumored plan to house tens of thousands of immigrant detainees at the city's Naval Weapons Station. Photo: Lauren Hernandez / Photo: Lauren Hernandez / Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Concord residents cheer news of no planned immigrant detention center 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Concord residents crammed into a special City Council meeting Wednesday to denounce unofficial plans by the U.S. government to open a migrant detention center for 47,000 detainees at the Naval Weapons Station.

But even before any of them had a chance to speak, a Contra Costa County official informed the crowd that no such detention center would open in Concord or anywhere else in California at this time — news that was met with cheers from residents, some carrying posters reading “Bring families together” and “Not here, not anywhere.”

The official said the state Office of Emergency Services informed Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston that the Department of Homeland Security would not open a center. Concord officials reassured residents that they would seek confirmation from the U.S. Navy that the Concord land would not be used for a camp.

The meeting was scheduled in response to a Time magazine report published last week that cited a draft memo that Concord’s Naval Weapons Station, which opened in 1942 and has been closed since 2007, was on the Navy’s short list to house tens of thousands of migrants detained as part of President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy for those crossing the southern border into the U.S.

Even after being told there would be no detention center, residents expressed skepticism and concern that it could happen in the future.

Victoria Fierce, was one of more than two dozen members of the public to speak at the meeting.

“Even though they’re saying they’re trying to cancel this, I think we still have to have a watchful eye to prevent it from happening in the future,” Fierce told the council.

Fierce, who identified herself as a representative with housing organization East Bay for Everyone, told Mayor Edi Birsan and council members that she doesn’t trust the federal government.

Dolores Ramos, president of Central County Regional Group, told the council that Concord’s immigrant families are feeling vulnerable with the news of a potential detention center in their backyard.

She said immigrant children and parents are experiencing pain, frustration and fear as reports of a potential detention center are displayed on television and newspapers.

“I can’t protect them from the news,” Ramos said. “Concord is an inclusive city and … we do not need detention centers, we do not need racism, and we do not need our children full of fear.”

Each speaker was given two minutes to share their thoughts during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Birsan cut off one speaker, Angela Dancev, a representative of affirmative action and immigrant rights group By Any Means Necessary, after she surpassed the two-minute mark.

Dancev demanded council members pass a resolution that would require local officials not to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or allow “concentration camps” to be established in Concord.

She called detention camps currently operated by the federal government “inhumane and purely evil actions” carried out by Trump and his administration.

After passing her time limit, Dancev continued speaking and raised her voice.

“We are also the home of the polite,” Birsan said, as officials cut the microphone to end Dancev’s speech.

The Naval Weapons Station is owned and operated by the federal government. While the city is currently negotiating terms that would allow it to acquire and develop the property, Concord officials said they currently have no jurisdiction over the station.

Concord officials on Wednesday expressed additional concerns about the message an immigration detention center would send to residents.

“Last September, the city of Concord passed a resolution affirming Concord’s commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive, tolerant and supportive community for all,” the statement said. “We do not feel that a detention center within city limits represents those values.”

Birsan sent a letter Monday to Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer asking that an authorized representative be sent to Wednesday’s meeting to take questions about the decision-making process, as well as the project’s status and timing. No one from the Navy appeared to be at the meeting. On Wednesday, the mayor said the Navy had not been “forthcoming” in providing information.

Lauren Hernandez and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com, megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @laurenporfavor, @meganrcassidy