Michigan Leaders Erupt Over Planned ICE ‘Warehouse Prison’ in Romulus
A fierce political and community battle is unfolding in Michigan tonight and it centers on immigration enforcement, federal power and the future of two cities in Metro Detroit.
Leaders across the state are pushing back hard against plans tied to the federal agency known as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , or ICE. At the center of the controversy is a proposal to convert a warehouse in Romulus into what opponents are calling a large-scale immigration detention center. Critics describe it as a “warehouse prison,” and they say it represents a dramatic expansion of federal detention operations in the region.
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The plan has sparked outrage from a coalition of elected officials, faith leaders and immigrant rights advocates. Among the most vocal is Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib , who argues that the facility would transform a site once expected to bring automotive jobs into a place designed to hold hundreds of detainees. She and others say this is not just about one building. They see it as part of a broader infrastructure build-out.
That concern extends to nearby Southfield , where office space has been leased through the federal government’s property arm, the General Services Administration. City officials confirm the lease is for administrative and legal work tied to ICE operations. They insist no detention or enforcement activities will occur there. The property developer, REDICO, says its agreement explicitly bans law enforcement or detention use and that it is prepared to enforce those terms if violated.
But for protesters, the distinction between “office space” and “detention space” does not go far enough. They argue that legal offices and administrative hubs are the backbone of enforcement actions. Demonstrations have already taken place outside the Southfield building, with chants demanding ICE leave the area.
Supporters of the expansion say immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that agencies need adequate facilities to process cases. Opponents counter that expanding detention capacity increases fear in immigrant communities and raises concerns about oversight, due process and taxpayer spending.
This matters far beyond Michigan. Immigration policy remains one of the most divisive issues in the United States and local resistance to federal enforcement is becoming more visible. If projects like this move forward, they could signal a wider national expansion. If they are blocked, it could reshape how and where federal immigration agencies operate.
The debate now moves to city councils, federal funding votes and likely the courts. And communities are watching closely.
Stay with us as this story develops, because decisions made here could echo far beyond one warehouse in Michigan.
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