Here's what we know about ICE's planned detention facility in Romulus - mlive.com

ROMULUS, MI - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its presence in Southeast Michigan, prompting strong condemnation from local and state officials who say they were blindsided by the federal government’s plans.

The expansion includes the confirmed purchase of a warehouse in Romulus intended to house a detention facility, along with a separate office lease in Southfield for administrative and legal functions.

Here are the key takeaways.

ICE confirmed the purchase of a Romulus warehouse for a new detention facility

ICE confirmed it has purchased the warehouse at 7525 Cogswell Street in Romulus and plans to convert it into a detention facility.

In a written statement, an ICE spokesperson said the property will house “very well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.”

The agency projects the facility and its construction will create 1,458 jobs, generate nearly $150 million in economic activity, and provide more than $33 million in projected tax revenue.

However, federal officials have not publicly released key details, including the facility’s timeline for opening.

Earlier reporting identified Romulus as one of several potential warehouse-based detention sites nationwide, with a preliminary proposed capacity of about 500 beds.

What was the building used for?

The building on Cogswell Street is approximately 261,450 square feet, according to past real estate listings. It sits along I-275 between Ecorse and Wick roads.

The warehouse was one of four properties purchased for a combined $93 million in 2023 through a joint venture between Crestlight Capital and Sabal Investment, according to The Detroit News.

The Detroit News reported the building is owned by 7525 Cogswell Propco LLC, an entity affiliated with Crestlight.

The facility’s location places it near schools and major immigrant communities

The warehouse sits in Wayne County’s industrial corridor, roughly:

• 6 miles northwest of Detroit Metropolitan Airport
• 18 miles from Southwest Detroit
• 25 miles from the heart of downtown Detroit

The property is near residential neighborhoods and three public schools: Romulus Middle School, Wick Elementary School, and Romulus High School.

The site is also within driving distance of some of Michigan’s largest immigrant populations, including:

• Dearborn, home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the United States. About 54.5% of Dearborn’s 109,976 residents are of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) ancestry, most of them Arab, according to 2020 U.S. census data.
• Hamtramck, where a significant share of residents are foreign-born, including large Yemeni and Bangladeshi communities. Estimates indicate that more than 30% of Hamtramck’s population is Yemeni, while roughly 25% is Bangladeshi.
• Southwest Detroit, one of Michigan’s largest Hispanic communities.

Romulus officials say they were not notified and strongly oppose the plan

Romulus Mayor Robert A. McCraight said the city did not receive formal written notice before the property was secured.

He criticized the process.

“Shame on the federal government for planning in secret and coming to our community without notifying anyone,” he said. “Let us be clear, we do not want ICE in Romulus.”

He said the facility could place an “enormous drain on our public safety, our first responders.”

City officials are consulting legal counsel to determine what authority they may have to challenge or respond to the federal government’s plans.

Michigan’s Attorney General is reviewing the “deeply concerning” development

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office is assessing the federal government’s actions.

“This development in the City of Romulus is deeply concerning, as we see ICE activity throughout the country that does not reflect the standards we expect from law enforcement agencies at any level in the State of Michigan,” Nessel said in a statement to MLive. “The secrecy surrounding the acquisition of this property is troubling, and we’re working to learn more about the plans for the facility.”

She said her office will continue discussions with state and local partners to determine what role the State will assert in defending the rights of Michigan residents.

Additionally, Nessel recently rolled out a new “Immigration Action Reporting Form,“ urging residents to document ICE and Border Patrol activity while warning that some federal immigration operations are endangering people in Michigan.

The Romulus purchase is part of a broader ICE expansion, including Southfield

The Romulus facility is not an isolated development.

ICE will also use office space in Southfield, 25 miles north of Romulus, for administrative and legal functions.

The lease was executed through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

The property owner, REDICO, clarified that it “has not entered into a lease with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”

The company said the lease is with the federal government through GSA “for general office use only.”

REDICO added that “the terms of the lease explicitly prohibit any law enforcement, detention, or similar activities.”

City officials have also said enforcement officers will not operate from the Southfield location.

Public opposition is growing, with a rally planned

Opposition to the expansion continues to build.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib called the development a “warehouse prison” referencing both the Romulus detention site and the Southfield lease.

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.”

A protest rally is scheduled at Romulus City Hall, 11111 Wayne Road, ahead of a city council meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with organizers expecting hundreds of attendees, including state lawmakers, faith leaders and community advocates.