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Shri Thanedar welcomes cancellation of proposed ICE detention center in Michigan
Thanedar called it a victory for residents, advocates and local leaders who opposed the project.
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Ankita Baidya - Fri, 19, Jun 2026
- 04:17 EDT
- 15
Congressman Shri Thanedar / File Photo / Wikimedia commons
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has welcomed the decision by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to abandon plans for a proposed detention center in Romulus, Michigan, after months of opposition from local residents, elected officials and community advocates.
"ICE will not be opening a detention center in Romulus," Thanedar said in a statement. "Southeast Michigan communities came together, made our voices heard, and stopped this horrific project."
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"Our work to stand up to this administration is not over, but this is a moment worth celebrating," he added. "It should encourage us to keep fighting, because when we come together, our voices will be heard and we will win."
The Department of Homeland Security had purchased the approximately 250,000-square-foot warehouse near Detroit Metropolitan Airport in February 2026 as part of a nationwide effort to expand immigration detention capacity. According to reports, the facility was expected to hold up to 500 detainees.
The proposal drew opposition from local and state officials, who argued that federal authorities had failed to adequately evaluate alternative locations and had not properly coordinated with state and local governments before moving forward with the project.
In March, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the City of Romulus filed a lawsuit challenging the detention center proposal. The lawsuit cited concerns about the facility's location near residential neighborhoods and schools, as well as environmental and planning issues.
On June 18, Nessel announced that ICE had informed state officials it would not proceed with the detention center and instead planned to sell the property. She described the decision as a victory for residents and communities across the region.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Romulus Mayor Robert McCraight also welcomed the announcement, crediting local residents, elected officials and community advocates for helping halt the project.
Thanedar, who represents Michigan's 13th Congressional District, has opposed the detention center since it was first proposed. He organized petitions, held press conferences and publicly urged federal officials to reconsider the plan.
The congressman said the decision demonstrated the impact of community advocacy and local engagement in shaping public policy. A press conference on the issue previously scheduled by his office for June 22 has been postponed following the announcement.
According to reports, the Romulus property is among several warehouse sites nationwide that the Department of Homeland Security now plans to sell or transfer to other federal agencies as part of a broader reassessment of detention-facility expansion plans.
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