Michigan
ICE office in Southfield sparks concern from advocates, Democrats
Congress questions immigration officers about enforcement ways
Immigration officers are going through questions in Congress over enforcement operations and the deadly capturing of two U.S. residents in Minneapolis.
- A lease for an ICE workplace in Southfield has sparked protests from immigrant advocates and Democratic leaders.
- REDICO stated the lease with the U.S. Common Companies Administration (GSA) is for “common workplace use.”
A federal company has signed a lease settlement with an actual property company to open a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) workplace in Southfield, metropolis officers stated.
The transfer has raised issues amongst immigrant advocates and a few Democratic leaders who concern the location at One Towne Sq., close to the M-10 and Interstate-696 freeways, might be used to focus on sure communities and used for voter suppression in Michigan within the November elections.
In a press release, town of Southfield stated the “U.S. Common Companies Administration (GSA) has entered right into a lease for workplace house at One Towne Sq. to help administrative and authorized capabilities related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).”
The assertion added that town has been knowledgeable that ICE brokers won’t function outdoors the workplace, however will probably be utilized by ICE for administrative and authorized actions.
“Primarily based on the data offered to town, the leased house is for administrative and authorized actions,” town of Southfield stated. “Town has been knowledgeable that ICE enforcement officers won’t be working from this location.”
The true property firm that signed the lease, REDICO (Actual Property Growth and Funding Firm), confirmed in a press release to the Free Press on Friday, February 13, despatched by way of a PR company that that they had a lease with GSA, however added that “the lease expressly prohibits any legislation enforcement, detention or comparable actions occurring on the premises.” REDICO stated their lease was for common workplace use solely.
Town liberated the statement on its web site on Wednesday, February 11, however it didn’t seem once more the subsequent day when the Free Press checked the web site. When requested whether or not the initially posted assertion nonetheless stands, a metropolis spokesperson emailed the Free Press on Friday, February 13 with the unique assertion on the web site. Southfield Mayor Kenson Siver advised the Free Press that “after listening to from (the) landlord” they “did not need to say what the purpose is.”
“We’re advised it is a lease with the GSA for a authorized workplace,” Siver advised the Free Press. “We did not need to say what the profit is after listening to from (the) landlord. We solely have the owner’s assertion. We’ve got not heard from GSA or ICE. … Town has no authority to become involved in landlord contracts for makes use of permitted by the zoning ordinance.”
Immigrant advocates have expressed issues concerning the ICE workplace in on-line boards and urged individuals to contact REDICO and Southfield officers to specific their objections. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, launched a statement on Thursday, February 12, objected to the workplace and to reviews of a potential ICE detention in Romulus.
“ICE is now looking for to broaden its undesirable presence in Southeast Michigan, with a brand new workplace constructing lease with REDICO in Southfield to accentuate their actions towards our communities and a brand new warehouse jail in Romulus to restrict a whole lot of our neighbors in unsafe situations,” Tlaib stated. “Throughout the nation, individuals are coming collectively and preventing to forestall this huge growth of ICE’s community of abuse and cruelty.”
Mark Brewer, a Detroit lawyer and former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Social gathering, stated Friday he’s involved concerning the ICE workplace getting used to focus on Democratic voters in November.
“ICE will not be coming to Southfield as a result of it’s a hotbed of unlawful immigration (it’s not), however to make Southfield the headquarters for voter suppression within the fall elections on behalf of Trump and the Republican Social gathering.” Brouwer wrote in a message on X.
“It is what I consider and predict,” Brewer advised the Free Press.
ICE officers on the Midwest information company referred questions concerning the ICE workplace to their nationwide information company, who stated somebody from their workplace will attain out later. REDICO added that it has “a long-standing relationship with the U.S. Common Companies Administration (GSA), which leases house in a number of of our Class A industrial properties throughout the nation solely for workplace and administrative use.”
Town of Southfield acknowledged some residents’ issues concerning the ICE workplace and stated it is going to present updates.
“Town acknowledges that residents could have questions on this growth,” town stated. “The Metropolis of Southfield stays dedicated to transparency, factual communication and making certain the group understands the scope of municipal authority in issues involving personal industrial actual property.”
The controversy in Southfield comes after a report stated a website in Romulus is being thought of for a 500-bed ICE warehouse jail. Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight stated he couldn’t affirm any plans and strongly objects to an ICE detention facility.
“My authorities takes this difficulty very severely and is towards such an operation going down within the metropolis of Romulus,” McCraight stated earlier this month.
In different developments, a coalition of spiritual teams in Michigan introduced Friday that greater than 200 religion leaders and organizations within the state have signed a letter condemning “violent and dehumanizing immigration enforcement practices by” brokers, in keeping with a information launch from Bellwether Public Relations in Lansing.
On Monday, February 16, the coalition plans to carry an internet press convention with a number of religion leaders, together with United Methodist Bishop David Bardwhich leads Methodists within the state, calling for “transparency, accountability and systemic reform,” organizers stated.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com