San Antonio ICE Detention Center Plan Stalled as Environmental Review Looms

The federal government’s plan to open a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in San Antonio has been put on hold, according to District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. The pause comes as the government completes a required environmental impact assessment, a process that includes public input and could delay or derail the project.

The proposed facility, located near Interstate 10 and Loop 410, was purchased by the federal government for about $66 million and was initially expected to open in September. But McKee-Rodriguez explained that federal law mandates an environmental review before construction can proceed. “Because of that, the planned project here in San Antonio is on a pause along with several others nationwide,” he said.

This development is part of a broader pushback against the expansion of ICE detention centers, especially those converting warehouses into locked facilities. Cities and states across the country are challenging such projects in court, citing concerns over inhumane conditions, civil rights violations, and the growing for-profit detention system.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers continue to spotlight the troubling realities inside Texas ICE facilities. A recent congressional visit to the Dilley detention center, operated by private prison giant CoreCivic, revealed a costly contract with the federal government: $15 million per month, regardless of the number of detainees housed. With fewer than 400 detainees currently held at Dilley, including 93 children, the per-person cost skyrockets to $37,500 monthly.

Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva condemned the exorbitant spending, while U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia questioned the quality of medical care, revealing detainees only see nurses and rarely doctors. CoreCivic’s own press release touts the facility’s expected $180 million annual revenue once fully operational, including medical services—an eye-popping figure that raises questions about profiteering from detention.

McKee-Rodriguez emphasized the importance of public involvement in the environmental review process, promising town halls and community meetings where residents can voice concerns about the economic, environmental, and social impacts of the detention center. He also warned that the city is ready to take legal action if the federal government tries to bypass the review.

This pause in San Antonio reflects growing resistance to the expansion of ICE detention infrastructure and underscores the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and humane treatment in immigration enforcement practices. We will keep tracking this story as it develops.