WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) are demanding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reverse plans to purchase a commercial warehouse in Romulus, Michigan for use as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the senators raised concerns and requested additional information about DHS’s recent acquisition of the Southeast Michigan facility, which was purchased without notifying local officials or demonstrating that the site can meet federal detention standards.
In their letter, the senators underscore that the warehouse—located in Romulus’ M-1 Industrial District—is zoned for light manufacturing and small-scale warehousing. The letter also notes that ICE has struggled to support adequate conditions for detainees at existing facilities and questions how DHS intends to retrofit a commercial facility to meet federal detention standards, especially absent of any feedback or prior consultation with the city’s Building and Safety, Police or Fire departments.
“We are concerned about the safety of detainees and employees, especially at a time when ICE is struggling to provide adequate conditions at its existing facilities,” wrote the senators. “Accordingly, we urge the Department to reverse plans to use this site as a detention facility in Romulus, Michigan and provide a swift response to our questions.”
Local leaders have also raised concerns about DHS’s plans for the facility, which had previously been zoned for light industrial uses that support Michigan’s manufacturing industry, and create jobs and revenue for the local community.
The senators continued in their letter: “Prior to the Department’s purchase of the facility, the city’s Department of Building & Safety had issued a renovation permit to accommodate the use of the facility for an automotive manufacturer. It seems unlikely that a detention facility owned by the federal government would replace the economic benefits of an automotive manufacturer when manufacturing is one of the backbones of Michigan’s economy.”
On February 23rd, the Romulus City Council unanimously opposed DHS’s proposed use of the facility, citing serious concerns about the facility’s increased demands on city services like sewer, water, electricity, and emergency services such as ambulances and EMTs.
The senators have called on Secretary Noem to provide a justification for selecting the site, explain if any environmental or economic impact analysis was conducted, and detail the planned capacity and staffing levels for this facility, as well as documentation of any local stakeholder engagement no later than March 11, 2026.
Text of the letter is available here.
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