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Communities fight ICE detention centers, but have few tools to stop them

On Thursday, the Kansas City firm that owns the 920,000-square-foot warehouse said it was no longer actively engaged with the U.S. Government after the Kansas City Council approved a five-year ban on nonmunicipal detention facilities.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's high detainee numbers—more than 70,000 as of January—have driven searches for large industrial sites, fueled by federal support approved last summer.
Public records and disclosures reveal ICE documents show multiple sites totaling 92,600 beds, while local city leaders say they received no ICE outreach beyond a historic-preservation disclosure.
Despite legal advice from local officials and attorneys saying ICE can claim immunity, public pressure has caused owners in Oklahoma City and Virginia to withdraw from deals.
Local officials counter that converting properties to tax-free federal facilities would remove local revenue and strain water, fire and other city services, while a vacant warehouse pays about $529,000 annually to a town with about a $20 million property tax base.

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