Questions swirl over possible ICE detention site near Romulus
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A 500-bed ICE detention facility has been proposed for Romulus — but local officials say they don't yet know where, or if, it will be built.
Why it matters: The reported Romulus proposal comes as ICE moves to rapidly expand detention capacity nationwide.
- A facility in Metro Detroit would bring the expansion closer to residential communities and DTW, raising concerns about local oversight, safety and infrastructure strain.
Catch up quick: Romulus was among 23 locations nationwide identified in a recent Bloomberg report detailing the Trump administration's plan to buy warehouses and convert them into ICE detention centers.
- The plan could supply the administration with 76,500 more beds.
- Although Romulus was listed among the 23 sites, Bloomberg noted that some cities are approximate locations based on the nearest municipality.
State of play: Local elected officials say they're still trying to gather information about a possible ICE detention center in Romulus, a suburb west of Detroit with about 25,000 residents.
- State Rep. Dylan Wegela, a democratic socialist of Garden City who represents part of Romulus, told Axios the proposed site may not be in Romulus at all, but in a neighboring community.
- State Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton) said in a statement that "there is no concrete evidence at this time of any facility in Romulus being used or developed into a detention center."
- Neither Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight nor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office responded to Axios' requests for comment.
What they're saying: Wegela said he would oppose any new ICE detention facility in the area.
- "I think we should be doing everything we can at the state and local levels to make it more difficult or prevent these facilities from being built in Michigan," he said.
- He's introduced a bill to ban state property from being sold to ICE or becoming ICE detention centers.
Michigan already has at least one major immigration detention center, the privately operated North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, with about 1,800 beds.
The other side: The Trump administration says it needs far more detention space to carry out its immigration enforcement agenda. Converting warehouses into detention centers near airports would be more efficient, DHS has said. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE have not commented publicly on specific locations, including Romulus.
- Axios requested information on ICE facilities in Michigan. A DHS spokesperson's response emphasized broader enforcement goals without addressing whether any new facilities are planned.
What's next: Axios has filed public records requests with ICE and Michigan State Police seeking more detail on ICE's plans and activities in the state.
Go deeper: Resistance erupts over ICE's warehouse buying spree