Milwaukee’s ICE Processing Center for Deportation May Relocate Soon

Local officials and advocates express outrage over the potential move of the ICE processing center in Milwaukee

Milwaukee’s ICE Processing Center for Deportation May Relocate Soon
Milwaukee’s ICE Processing Center for Deportation May Relocate Soon

Milwaukee: A processing center for people facing deportation might be moving from downtown to the northwest side of the city. This has sparked anger among local officials and advocates.

Ald. Larresa Taylor highlighted the potential new site as a “detention facility” in a press release. However, city zoning records show it’s just a processing center where immigrants won’t be held overnight. They’ll be taken elsewhere, like a detention facility.

At a news conference, Taylor expressed frustration that residents weren’t consulted about this decision. She mentioned that her district already has a youth detention facility, and people felt left out of that process too.

The current ICE office downtown processes immigrants but doesn’t detain them. The new location would be at 11925 W. Lake Park Drive, in the Park Place business park.

A proposal from 2023 stated that the new office would handle detainees for transport and process individuals who need to check in for their deportation cases. Wisconsin’s only detention center is in Juneau, currently holding about 106 detainees.

ICE detains people under two categories: those with serious felony convictions and those suspected of violating immigration laws. Others may have ongoing cases but aren’t detained.

The idea to move the processing center started in 2023 when the downtown location was sold to the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The new site was sold to a company that leases to federal agencies.

In December, the new owner applied for a permit to renovate the building, but it’s unclear if city approval is needed. City officials are reviewing the applications.

A group of Milwaukee County Board members criticized the proposal, stating it represents a system that harms families. They believe building such a facility goes against the community’s values and priorities.

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