San Antonio sues DHS and ICE over proposed detention facility

The city of San Antonio has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to block the opening of a new detention facility. The legal action, filed in a Texas federal court, seeks to halt the conversion of a 640,000-square-foot warehouse into a center capable of holding up to 1,500 migrants.

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and City Attorney Andy Segovia allege that federal authorities violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to conduct required environmental reviews. The city argues that the DHS has not adequately assessed the potential societal, economic, health, and environmental impacts of the project, including its effects on local water and sewage systems.

The federal government purchased the property for $66.1 million and awarded a $17.3 million contract for its renovation. San Antonio is requesting that the court vacate the purchase of the facility and stop all work until the DHS and ICE fully comply with NEPA requirements.