Michigan AG Sues to Block ICE Warehouse Amid Safety Fears

Michigan Attorney General Sues to Block ICE Warehouse

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is taking legal action to stop the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from opening a new detention facility in the Detroit suburbs. The lawsuit aims to block the conversion of a warehouse into a facility intended to hold at least 500 detainees. Nessel argues that the chosen location poses significant public safety and environmental risks, calling it a “public safety nightmare.” The facility is planned for an area that is densely populated and environmentally sensitive, raising concerns for local residents and officials.

Concerns Over Facility Location and Safety

Attorney General Nessel highlighted several critical issues with the proposed warehouse site. “DHS could not have picked a worse place to have placed a facility that is intended to hold at least 500 detainees,” she stated. The location is less than a mile from both an elementary and a middle school, raising immediate safety alarms for children. It also borders numerous residential neighborhoods, bringing potential disruptions directly to people’s homes. Further complicating matters, the site is situated in a floodplain that experienced flooding as recently as last July, raising questions about its suitability for housing individuals. The facility’s infrastructure is also a concern, with only a six-inch sewer line serving six bathrooms, indicating potential sanitation issues.

Environmental and Community Impact

Beyond immediate safety, the proposed ICE warehouse is located near protected wetlands, raising environmental protection concerns. Nessel also pointed out the facility’s placement in the heart of metropolitan Detroit, a region with over 4.4 million residents. She anticipates that the presence of the facility will likely trigger massive protests. The Attorney General expressed doubt that local police and community resources are sufficient to handle such large demonstrations, noting that even smaller protests have already proven costly for the community.

“It’s a public safety nightmare because it’s right in the middle of metropolitan Detroit, where over 4.4 million people live, we are probably going to see massive protests that the police in the community simply don’t have the resources for.”

Legal Challenges and Federal Overreach

Nessel’s lawsuit questions the legality of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) actions, suggesting they may be violating federal, state, and local laws. She found it ironic that while individuals are detained and deported for not following immigration laws, agencies like DHS and ICE might be disregarding existing regulations themselves. Nessel referenced numerous instances where judges, even conservative ones, have ruled in favor of habeas corpus petitions filed by detainees, suggesting that DHS and ICE are not always operating as agencies of law and order.

The Attorney General also noted that this move comes at a time when the administration is reportedly looking to expand contracts with private prisons and local jails. She expressed concern about the overall impact of such policies, especially when the administration claims to be backing down on certain enforcement measures. The proximity of the proposed facility to two major airports and two primary freeways is expected to cause significant traffic disruptions and disarray for millions of people within a 10-minute drive.

Seeking a Different Approach

The warehouse was purchased under former Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Nessel expressed hope that the new Secretary, Mark Morgan, will be more open to discussion and reason. She stated, “I hope that Secretary Mullen will be a little bit more reasonable and at least want to engage in conversations with us here.” Nessel also pointed out the availability of vacant Michigan Department of Correction prisons due to a significant decrease in the state’s crime rate. She believes these existing, suitable facilities were not even considered, and there was no effort to discuss their use with the state. Converting a warehouse, she argued, makes little sense when safer and better-situated state facilities are available.

“Generally what happens when the federal government comes in and wants to establish a presence,” Nessel said, “I think it’s the least that they can possibly do. And I hope that Secretary Mullen will agree with that.” The lawsuit represents a significant challenge to federal immigration detention policies at the state level, focusing on the practical and safety concerns of local communities.

Source: 'Public safety nightmare': Michigan AG sues to block ICE warehouse in Detroit suburbs (YouTube)