Hundreds Protest Planned ICE Detention Center in Romulus Warehouse
Protesters march from school to warehouse site as state officials challenge federal detention center plans in court.
ROMULUS, MICHIGAN — Several hundred protesters gathered and marched through Romulus on Saturday to oppose federal plans to convert an industrial warehouse into a 500-bed ICE detention center, as legal challenges continue against the controversial proposal.
The demonstration began at Romulus Middle School before participants marched to the 261,450-square-foot warehouse at 7525 Cogswell Street. Protesters carried signs opposing ICE operations and President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts.
“I want people to know that what’s happening is wrong,” said Jarwin Garza, 53, of Ferndale. “We have due process in this country under our Constitution, and it’s not being followed by the current presidential administration.”
Legal Opposition Mounts
The proposed ICE facility, located just six miles from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, has drawn legal challenges from state and local officials. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the city of Romulus have filed lawsuits to block the Department of Homeland Security’s plans for the detention center.
The warehouse conversion would create one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the region, capable of housing 500 individuals awaiting immigration proceedings or deportation.
Community Response
Saturday’s protest highlighted growing community opposition to the federal detention center proposal. Demonstrators expressed concerns about the facility’s impact on the local community and the treatment of immigrants in federal custody.
The march comes as the Trump administration continues expanding immigration enforcement operations nationwide, including plans to increase detention capacity in multiple states.
Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist addressed the crowd during the demonstration, urging protesters to “make some noise, they can’t drown you out” when a counter-protester attempted to disrupt the event.
Ongoing Legal Battle
The legal challenges filed by Attorney General Nessel and Romulus city officials represent the primary avenue for blocking the detention center proposal. The lawsuits argue against the federal government’s authority to establish the facility without proper local approval and community input.
Federal officials have not announced a timeline for the warehouse conversion, though the Department of Homeland Security continues to pursue the project despite local opposition. The facility would serve as part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy in the Great Lakes region.
The protests and legal proceedings highlight the tension between federal immigration policy and local community concerns as debates over detention facilities continue across Michigan and other states.
