ROMULUS (WWJ) -- The proposed ICE facility near Detroit Metro Airport now has a date in court.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the City of Romulus have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), seeking to halt the conversion of a local warehouse into a mass immigration detention facility.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, argues that the federal government's plan to transform the commercial site at 7525 Cogswell Street is unlawful. The state is asking the court to vacate the decision and permanently ban any further construction or operation of the facility.
According to the lawsuit, ICE purchased the warehouse in February without notifying state or local officials.
At a news conference Tuesday, Nessel characterized the move as a "zealous quest" for expansion that bypassed traditional planning and environmental considerations.
"The Romulus Warehouse is simply not—and never will be—an appropriate place for a large-scale detention center," Nessel said. "DHS... appears to have conducted an ill-conceived rush job, free from any traditional planning considerations or even basic concern for the many Romulus residents."
The legal challenge highlights several specific reasons why the Cogswell Street location is allegedly unfit for housing hundreds of detainees:
Proximity to Schools: The site is located within one mile of both an elementary and a middle school.
Environmental Risks: The warehouse sits within a floodplain that experienced flooding as recently as last year.
Insufficient Infrastructure: The complaint alleges the building lacks the necessary sewage and bathroom facilities to support 500 detainees and staff.
Community Impact: Local leaders argue the facility would drain police resources and stifle economic development in a residential neighborhood.
Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight expressed frustration, saying in a statement: “Two words I hate to use when describing my home city are ‘overburdened and underserved.' Unfortunately, we are exactly that. We are not asking for a handout, just the chance to grow and improve the quality of life for our residents, unburdened by outside interference. This is why any type of detention center must be vetted through all required permitting and legal channels.”
State Senator Darrin Camilleri echoed these sentiments, comparing the project to past impositions of unwanted infrastructure, such as hazardous waste wells.
The lawsuit asserts that DHS and ICE violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to consider alternative locations, such as existing jails or prisons. Furthermore, the state claims the agencies ignored requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act and failed to cooperate with local government.
State Representative Dylan Wegela, who represents the district, pointed to ICE’s safety record as a cause for alarm. "Last year in ICE detention, we saw record deaths," Wegela said, calling the proposed Romulus facility a "disaster in the making.
The litigation follows a period of silence from the federal government, according to Nessel.
The AG's office previously submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and a letter regarding the project, but reportedly received no response.
