LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II applauded Attorney General Dana Nessel for her efforts to stop the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from converting a Romulus warehouse into a mass immigration detention facility. Attorney General Nessel filed a lawsuit against DHS and ICE in March, seeking to declare the detention center as unlawful and prohibit its construction.  

“The proposed ICE detention center in Romulus was widely opposed by the local communities,” said Governor Whitmer. “I commend the efforts of Attorney General Nessel, Romulus Mayor McCraight, and our state and federal lawmakers for putting a stop to this facility and ensuring Michiganders have a say in what happens in their own backyards.” 

“Our first responsibility as public servants is to protect Michiganders from any person, organization, or government that tries to bully them,” said Lt. Governor Gilchrist. “The people of Romulus made it clear that an ICE detention facility was not welcomed. I am thankful to Attorney General Nessel for her work in stopping this detention center from being built. Let’s keep standing tall for the rights and voices of all Michiganders.” 

In February, and without notice to the State, City, or the general public, ICE purchased a commercial warehouse, located at 7525 Cogswell Street in Romulus, intending to convert it into a mass detention center that houses hundreds of detainees.  

Attorney General Nessel filed a lawsuit the following March. Although the Attorney General has independent litigation authority, the Governor agreed to have the lawsuit filed on behalf of the State of Michigan. In addition, both the Department of Corrections and the Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy filed affidavits supporting the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged that the warehouse is not an appropriate place of detention because it is located within a mile of an elementary school and a middle school, it abuts residential neighborhoods, it lies within a floodplain that has experienced flooding as recently as last year, and it lacks the adequate infrastructure to support 500 detainees and staff. The lawsuit additionally argued that DHS and ICE violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to adequately consider alternative facilities, failed to comply with environmental requirements, and did not cooperate with state and local officials. 

Attorney General Nessel also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking a court order to stop the construction while the lawsuit was pending. In response, DHS and ICE continually delayed initiating construction, pushing the start of construction back. Now, after the challenge from Attorney General Nessel and disapproval of thousands of Michiganders, DHS and ICE are abandoning their plans for the facility.