Proposed ICE facility building in Romulus is vandalized
Protests against the newly announced 500-bed ICE detention facility in Romulus were obvious last week when the 300,000 square foot building at 7525 Cogswell Road was vandalized with red spray paint. Portions of the red paint marks also appear to have been covered over with black spray paint, officials said.
The proposed detention facility will be renovated to house 500 detainees, according to information provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Homeland Security Administration. The building is located along Interstate-275 between Ecorse and Wick roads near Detroit Metro Airport.
A public demonstration regarding the project took place Monday prior to the regular Romulus City Council meeting.
Romulus Mayor Robert A. McCraight has been steadfastly against the plan and expressed his concerns in several media posts.
"We are also working with legal counsel to determine what authority we have in this matter," McCraight posted early in the discussion of the detention facility. He added that he was speaking to officials "at all levels" telling them that a detention center is not permitted and will be opposed by the city.
“Instead of this building bringing jobs to Romulus, it is being occupied by a rogue federal agency. Let us be clear, we do not want ICE in Romulus,” McCraight said in a statement.
The building is posted as "U.S. Government Property - No Trespassing." signs.
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) is also pushing back against the planned detention facility
“Let’s call this ICE facility what it really is — an ill-constructed jail that would enable ICE to further terrorize our immigrant communities across Southeast Michigan.” Camilleri said in a statement.
He added that he was working with local, state, and federal leaders to keep the facility from opening.
“Make no mistake; ICE is not creating this detention center to keep our communities safe. This facility will undermine the work of our local law enforcement, ship in masked agents, and foment chaos throughout our region,” Camilleri said.
