Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II have praised Attorney General Dana Nessel for successfully preventing the construction of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Romulus, following a lawsuit filed by Nessel's office. ICE announced it would abandon plans to convert a Romulus warehouse into a mass detention center after facing legal challenge and community opposition.
Attorney General Nessel initiated a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE in March, seeking to declare the proposed detention center unlawful and prohibit its construction. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the State of Michigan with the Governor's agreement, alleged the warehouse was unsuitable due to its proximity to schools and residential areas, its location within a floodplain, and inadequate infrastructure for hundreds of detainees and staff.
Governor Whitmer highlighted the widespread local opposition, saying, "The proposed ICE detention center in Romulus was widely opposed by the local communities." Lt. Governor Gilchrist added, "The people of Romulus made it clear that an ICE detention facility was not welcomed." The lawsuit also claimed DHS and ICE violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to consider alternatives and comply with environmental requirements.
ICE had purchased the commercial warehouse in February without prior notice to state or local officials. Nessel's motion for a preliminary injunction led to repeated delays in construction, ultimately resulting in DHS and ICE abandoning their plans for the facility after facing the legal challenge and disapproval from Michiganders.