ROMULUS, MI – A coalition of Michigan faith leaders, immigrant advocates and elected officials on Thursday, Feb. 19, called for the cancellation of a federal plan to convert a warehouse in Romulus into an immigration detention center.
During an online press conference, speakers criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, accusing the agency of expanding detention operations without sufficient oversight and contributing to fear in immigrant communities across Southeast Michigan.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, said she opposes continued funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless changes are made to immigration enforcement practices.
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life better and more affordable, not fund a rogue agency that is detaining and brutalizing people,” Dingell said, adding she voted against a recent DHS funding bill and will continue to do so “until these abuses end.”
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, described the proposed facility as part of what she called an “unprecedented expansion” of ICE operations in the region and referred to the project as a “warehouse prison.”
“ICE is now attempting to expand right here, an unprecedented expansion not only in one community, but two,” Tlaib said. “And this warehouse in Romulus that was slated for hundreds of permanent automotive jobs … they’re now turning it into a prison to cage hundreds of our immigrant neighbors. That is something that we’re going to say ‘hell no’ to.“
Tlaib also criticized ICE’s reported plans to lease additional office space in Southfield, alleging the agency is growing its legal and administrative operations locally.
“The deportation machine depends on office buildings like the one they’re talking about in Southfield,” she said.
City officials in Southfield confirmed that the U.S. General Services Administration executed a lease for office space at Oakland Towne Square, a privately owned commercial complex near the Lodge Freeway and Interstate 696.
According to the city, the space will support administrative and legal functions on behalf of ICE. Enforcement officers will not operate from that location, officials said.
REDICO, the Southfield-based development company associated with the property, said it has not entered into a lease directly with ICE.
“REDICO has not entered into a lease with ICE,” the company said in a statement to MLive. “The lease in question is with the United States of America, by and through the General Services Administration (GSA), for general office use only.”
The company added that the terms of the lease explicitly prohibit any law enforcement, detention or similar activities from occurring at the property and said it is prepared to enforce those terms if violated.
REDICO also said it has offered to meet with Tlaib to review the lease agreement and answer questions, emphasizing its long-standing ties to the Southfield community and its commitment to safety and transparency.
Speakers at the press conference also included state Reps. Dylan Wegela and Ranjeev Puri, Rev. Paul Perez of Central United Methodist Church, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, and representatives from Michigan United Action, Indivisible and Arab Americans for Progress.
Organizers are calling on supporters to attend a rally from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, outside Romulus City Hall at 11111 Wayne Road, ahead of the scheduled City Council meeting.
