While ICE officials didn’t directly address the transaction, the agency said it was “actively working to expand detention space” in the U.S.
SAN ANTONIO — The federal government has purchased a 640,000-square-foot warehouse in east San Antonio for Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, according to multiple individuals familiar with the matter. The purchase comes amid growing scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement practices and scrutiny over the personnel carrying them out.
A source told KENS 5 the property at 542 SE Loop 410, previously owned by Oakmont Industrial Group, was no longer available on commercial property databases and said it appeared the building had been purchased by ICE. District 10 City Councilman Marc Whyte told KENS 5 on Tuesday that “our understanding is that the sale closed yesterday.”
The development comes east-side leaders, including District 2 City Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, spoke out in opposition of the potential purchase in recent days.
“This warehouse will traffic some of the most disreputable commercial activity since WWII,” Calvert told KENS 5 in a statement last week. “The detaining and housing of people who are denied due process in immigration courts has become a very lucrative business. There are various agencies that are part of these violations of U.S. immigration law being paid in our names.”
McKee-Rodriguez took to social media over the weekend, saying Oakmont Industrial Group was “allegedly closing in on a deal this week to turn one of their facilities into an ICE Detention Center.” The council member called on constituents to email Oakmont and demand they not make such deals with the federal government.
The chief of staff for Bexar County Peter Sakai said the judge was “absolutely opposed” to an ICE detention facility in Bexar County.
City officials said Tuesday they had received “no direct information” about the sale, adding that since the city isn’t a party in the transaction, it wouldn’t have been involved. The city also said it had “no zoning authority” pertaining to use of the property since the federal government is involved.
KENS 5 inquired with ICE personnel about the sale. While authorities with agency didn’t directly address actions in San Antonio, a spokesperson said the Department of Homeland Security had purchased land in Arizona, Maryland and El Paso to serve as “well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.”
“Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe,” ICE said in the statement. “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.”
This is a developing story.