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City of San Antonio sues ICE to stop detention center

The lawsuit is the city's first action aimed at halting a detention center.

News

The city of San Antonio sued <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ICE" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/27/san-antonio-city-council-ice-immigration-police" data-vars-content-id="e093f6b6-35f3-4c7c-a2af-e8c9a13ebfa7" data-vars-headline="City of San Antonio sues ICE to stop detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/27/san-antonio-city-council-ice-immigration-police" target="_self">ICE</a> and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday to stop the agencies from opening an immigration detention center on the East Side.Why it matters: City councilmembers have spent much of the year criticizing ICE and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the planned center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/03/san-antonio-ice-detention-center-east-side" data-vars-content-id="e093f6b6-35f3-4c7c-a2af-e8c9a13ebfa7" data-vars-headline="City of San Antonio sues ICE to stop detention center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/03/san-antonio-ice-detention-center-east-side" target="_self">the planned center</a>, but it hasn&#x27;t been clear they have the power to stop it. The lawsuit is their first attempt to prevent, or at least slow down, the center&#x27;s opening.

San Antonio Museum of Art project previews city bond

Political fights are already brewing over how to spend the next bond.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Antonio Museum of Art" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/06/sama-recollections-art-alzheimers-dementia" data-vars-content-id="c4131961-dfdd-4a9f-92ef-22f1b8a91585" data-vars-headline="San Antonio Museum of Art project previews city bond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/10/06/sama-recollections-art-alzheimers-dementia" target="_self">San Antonio Museum of Art</a> (SAMA) is seeking city bond money to expand access to the neighboring Museum Reach of the River Walk.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="planned 2027 bond" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/05/19/san-antonio-city-bond-election-2027-tax-increase" data-vars-content-id="c4131961-dfdd-4a9f-92ef-22f1b8a91585" data-vars-headline="San Antonio Museum of Art project previews city bond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/05/19/san-antonio-city-bond-election-2027-tax-increase" target="_self">planned 2027 bond</a> is expected to be just a fraction of the size of its last bond program if officials don&#x27;t raise the tax rate for it.

How much Trump's deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers

A new calculator estimates how much Texans will pay for Trump's deportation push.

Immigration

Texas could pay an estimated $23 billion toward President Trump&#x27;s mass deportation push — about $2,500 per taxpayer — according to a calculator from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Economic Policy Institute" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/47042253.45/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXBpLm9yZy9kZXBvcnRhdGlvbi1jYWxjdWxhdG9yLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/633dcc04d70fb9875101ab66Bb4c9cd23" data-vars-content-id="841d4f60-888f-4245-881c-a90955026689" data-vars-headline="How much Trump&#x27;s deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/47042253.45/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXBpLm9yZy9kZXBvcnRhdGlvbi1jYWxjdWxhdG9yLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX2xvY2FsbmV3c2xldHRlcnRlc3Qmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/633dcc04d70fb9875101ab66Bb4c9cd23" target="_self">Economic Policy Institute</a> (EPI).Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="841d4f60-888f-4245-881c-a90955026689" data-vars-headline="How much Trump&#x27;s deportation push could cost Texas taxpayers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> should instead fund other public priorities, such as health care or housing.

Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio's growth

International migration is a factor in San Antonio growth.

The San Antonio-New Braunfels area is continuing to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grow in population" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/05/16/san-antonio-texas-population-growth-census" data-vars-content-id="e5bac152-541b-467d-b164-d913b3ab1b97" data-vars-headline="Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/05/16/san-antonio-texas-population-growth-census" target="_self">grow in population</a>, albeit more slowly now amid a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drop in immigration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/county-population-growth-immigration" data-vars-content-id="e5bac152-541b-467d-b164-d913b3ab1b97" data-vars-headline="Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/county-population-growth-immigration" target="_self">drop in immigration</a>, recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="International migration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/30/texas-population-growth-immigration" data-vars-content-id="e5bac152-541b-467d-b164-d913b3ab1b97" data-vars-headline="Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/30/texas-population-growth-immigration" target="_self">International migration</a> is a significant contributor to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2024/03/18/bexar-county-texas-population-growth-census" data-vars-content-id="e5bac152-541b-467d-b164-d913b3ab1b97" data-vars-headline="Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2024/03/18/bexar-county-texas-population-growth-census" target="_self">San Antonio&#x27;s growth</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lloyd Potter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.utsa.edu/endowed/profiles/tx-state-demographer-distinguished-professorship.html" data-vars-content-id="e5bac152-541b-467d-b164-d913b3ab1b97" data-vars-headline="Dip in immigration is slowing San Antonio&#x27;s growth" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.utsa.edu/endowed/profiles/tx-state-demographer-distinguished-professorship.html" target="_blank">Lloyd Potter</a>, the Texas State Demographer based at UT San Antonio, tells Axios.

How tariffs and immigration hit San Antonio's Silk Road

International markets offer a home away from home.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tariffs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" data-vars-content-id="42e45737-78b9-4e21-b2f3-973bd9523cfd" data-vars-headline="How tariffs and immigration hit San Antonio&#x27;s Silk Road" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/economy/tariffs" target="_self">Tariffs</a> and fear among some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigrant communities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/10/27/bay-area-sf-federal-immigration-crackdown-fears-immigrant-anxiety" data-vars-content-id="42e45737-78b9-4e21-b2f3-973bd9523cfd" data-vars-headline="How tariffs and immigration hit San Antonio&#x27;s Silk Road" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/10/27/bay-area-sf-federal-immigration-crackdown-fears-immigrant-anxiety" target="_self">immigrant communities</a> are changing how people shop at San Antonio&#x27;s international grocery stores.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s plentiful international markets offer a home away from home for a diverse community of immigrants.

Paxton sues Bexar County over immigrant legal fund

Paxton has filed a similar lawsuit against Harris County.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Bexar County over funding <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigrant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/03/san-antonio-ice-detention-center-east-side" data-vars-content-id="af53acbb-1ed0-4a24-93ba-bced81b53244" data-vars-headline="Paxton sues Bexar County over immigrant legal fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/02/03/san-antonio-ice-detention-center-east-side" target="_self">immigrant</a> legal services, he announced Wednesday.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The lawsuit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Petition_6.pdf?utm_content=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_name=&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_term=" data-vars-content-id="af53acbb-1ed0-4a24-93ba-bced81b53244" data-vars-headline="Paxton sues Bexar County over immigrant legal fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Petition_6.pdf?utm_content=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_name=&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_term=" target="_blank">The lawsuit</a> ramps up already-high political tensions over how <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local governments should" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/27/san-antonio-city-council-ice-immigration-police" data-vars-content-id="af53acbb-1ed0-4a24-93ba-bced81b53244" data-vars-headline="Paxton sues Bexar County over immigrant legal fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/01/27/san-antonio-city-council-ice-immigration-police" target="_self">local governments should</a> and should not handle <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration issues" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/immigration" data-vars-content-id="af53acbb-1ed0-4a24-93ba-bced81b53244" data-vars-headline="Paxton sues Bexar County over immigrant legal fund" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/immigration" target="_self">immigration issues</a>.

San Antonio leaders look for ways to block potential ICE detention site

ICE is looking to expand detention capacity.

Several San Antonio elected officials aren&#x27;t happy about reports that ICE is eyeing a warehouse on the city&#x27;s East Side to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expand its detention space" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/01/ice-detention-centers-jails-noem-trump" data-vars-content-id="4affed13-c72c-4880-8a7c-d476c2dff943" data-vars-headline="San Antonio leaders look for ways to block potential ICE detention site" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/01/ice-detention-centers-jails-noem-trump" target="_self">expand its detention space</a>, but it&#x27;s not clear what they can do about it.Why it matters: The federal government directly purchases facilities, making it harder — but not impossible — for local officials to combat the Trump administration&#x27;s plans to scale up its detention capacity.

Here's how SAPD does — and doesn't — work with ICE

Anger is mounting against ICE in San Antonio and nationwide.

As anger <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mounts against ICE" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/ice-agents-arrests-shooting-protests-riots" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/14/ice-agents-arrests-shooting-protests-riots" target="_self">mounts against ICE</a> in San Antonio and other major cities, the role local law enforcement plays in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="working with federal agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/01/24/san-antonio-police-immigration-enforcement-trump" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/01/24/san-antonio-police-immigration-enforcement-trump" target="_self">working with federal agents</a> is under increased scrutiny.Why it matters: Tensions have been building since <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal agents killed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/24/minneapolis-shooting-federal-agent" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/24/minneapolis-shooting-federal-agent" target="_self">federal agents killed</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alex Pretti" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/24/minneapolis-ice-shooting-id" target="_self">Alex Pretti</a> in Minneapolis on Saturday — less than a month after the shooting of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Renee Good" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/07/ice-shooting-victim-identified-renee-nicole-good-minneapolis" target="_self">Renee Good</a> — and after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a 5-year-old boy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/child-detention-ice-minnesota" data-vars-content-id="2dbc7640-7bb7-4c17-bcbf-9c1fe3b0db4d" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how SAPD does — and doesn&#x27;t — work with ICE" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/child-detention-ice-minnesota" target="_self">a 5-year-old boy</a> was detained there last week and sent to a family detention center south of San Antonio.

140 people arrested in San Antonio immigration raid

Gov. Greg Abbott said there's more to come.

More than 140 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="undocumented immigrants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/11/12/texas-unauthorzed-immigrant-population" data-vars-content-id="dc2e51bf-c402-4371-b679-c287ba73723b" data-vars-headline="140 people arrested in San Antonio immigration raid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/11/12/texas-unauthorzed-immigrant-population" target="_self">undocumented immigrants</a> were arrested during a raid targeting gang members in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Antonio" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio" data-vars-content-id="dc2e51bf-c402-4371-b679-c287ba73723b" data-vars-headline="140 people arrested in San Antonio immigration raid" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio" target="_self">San Antonio</a> on Sunday, the FBI confirmed.Why it matters: The arrests by a new multi-agency task force appear to be the beginning of a larger effort to crack down on international criminal organizations in South Texas.

A choropleth map showing the estimated cost per taxpayer for federal immigrant deportation and detention funding across the U.S. states. The average cost is $2.4k. Washington, D.C., has the highest load, at $3.9k.

Estimated cost per taxpayer for federal immigrant deportation and detainment funding

Data: Economic Policy Institute; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

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AA choropleth map of U.S. counties showing estimated population change from July 2024 to 2025. The U.S. overall grew by +0.5%. Kaufman County, Texas, grew the most of any county with a population over 100,000: +5.7%. Pinellas County, Florida shrank the most of any county with a population over 100,000: -1.2%. 