MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Alder Larresa Taylor is raising concerns about a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in her district.
In a statement teleased Tuesday, Taylor said she learned of the plan to convert a building at 11925 W. Lake Park Dr. into an ICE detention facility through a third party.
The proposed modifications include adding a sally port and a chain-link fence with privacy slats.
“I want District 9, and the rest of the city, to know that we do not support the Department of Homeland Security in their decision to move into our district, and we definitely do not support any such modifications to any building in our district (as a location to house prisoners!),” Taylor said in a statement.
Taylor said this is not the first time a detention facility has been proposed in her district. In 2021, a 32-bed youth detention facility was proposed, but it was ultimately not built.
“Understand that we did not have representation when the Department of Corrections practically forced the location of a 32-bed youth detention facility on us, but this time, we have a voice,” Taylor said.
Taylor is holding a press conference on Wednesday, January 15, at 1 p.m. outside of the proposed facility to further discuss her opposition to the ICE detention facility.
Background:
- This is not the first time ICE has faced opposition in Milwaukee. In 2017, ICE proposed a plan to detain immigrants at the Milwaukee County Jail. The plan was met with protests from immigrant rights groups and was ultimately not implemented.
- Milwaukee has a long history of immigration. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 26.6% of Milwaukee residents are foreign-born.
- Milwaukee is also home to a large number of immigrants who are undocumented.
Additional reporting: - It is unclear who is proposing the ICE detention facility.
- It is also unclear how many detainees the facility would hold.
- It is not known when the facility would open, if it is approved.
