Michigan officials and the city of Romulus have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, escalating a growing legal and political battle over plans to convert a local warehouse into an immigration detention center near Detroit.
The lawsuit, led by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and joined by the city, seeks to halt the federal government’s effort to repurpose a commercial warehouse in Romulus into a large-scale detention site operated by ICE.
The legal challenge marks one of the state’s strongest responses yet to the proposed project and comes amid mounting concerns from local leaders and residents about how the facility was approved and what impact it could have on the surrounding community. The proposed detention center would be located near one middle school, one elementary school and a residential neighborhood.
According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, the lawsuit argues that federal officials failed to properly consult with state and local authorities before moving forward with the plan. It also raises concerns that the project did not undergo required environmental review processes and may violate federal law governing land use and infrastructure planning.
“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,” said City of Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight in a press release. “This is why any type of detention center must be vetted through all required permitting and legal channels.”
The proposed detention center would be located in an existing warehouse near Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Reporting from Michigan Public and Michigan Advance highlights that the facility has sparked significant backlash at both the local and state level. Romulus officials have said they were not adequately informed about the project in advance, while residents and advocacy groups have raised concerns about transparency and community impact.
“As the state’s Attorney General, I have a legal and moral obligation to act if and when this administration behaves unlawfully and does so in a way that harms Michigan residents,” said Attorney General Nessel in a press release.
“The Romulus Warehouse is simply not—and never will be—an appropriate place for a large-scale detention center. DHS in its zealous quest for a bigger nationwide footprint, appears to have conducted an ill-conceived rush job, free from any traditional planning considerations or even basic concern for the many Romulus residents who will be impacted by their actions,” Nessel continued.
City leaders have already taken formal steps to oppose the plan. Earlier this year, the Romulus City Council unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of an ICE detention center within city limits, reflecting widespread local resistance.
Additional coverage from CBS News Detroit and The Detroit News notes that the state is now seeking court intervention to block construction or conversion of the facility while the case moves forward.
At the center of the dispute is a broader question about federal authority and local control.
The Romulus proposal is also part of a wider national trend, as federal agencies look to expand detention infrastructure by purchasing and converting existing properties, including warehouses near major transportation hubs.
State officials say the lawsuit is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability, while opponents of the detention center continue to organize at the local level. Federal agencies, meanwhile, have maintained that such facilities are needed to support immigration enforcement operations.
While opposition to the detention center has been widespread, demonstrations in Romulus have also drawn counter-protesters supporting immigration enforcement efforts.
Fox 2 reported that during a February protest outside City Hall, individuals in favor of the facility clashed with anti-ICE demonstrators as city officials prepared to meet on the proposal, reflecting divisions within the community over the project and broader immigration policy.
For now, the project remains in limbo as the legal process unfolds.