SAN ANTONIO — A proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility on San Antonio’s east side has been placed on hold while the federal government completes an environmental impact assessment, according to District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez.

McKee-Rodriguez said the pause comes as cities and states across the country challenge similar projects in court, particularly efforts to convert warehouse properties into immigration detention centers.

“Because of that, the planned project here in San Antonio is on a pause along with several others nationwide,” McKee-Rodriguez said in a social media update.

The proposed facility would be located near Interstate 10 and Loop 410 on the city’s east side. The federal government purchased the warehouse property for approximately $66 million, and the facility had been expected to open in September.

According to McKee-Rodriguez, federal law requires an environmental impact assessment before the project can move forward.

“The federal government is required to complete an environmental impact assessment before moving forward with projects like this,” he said. “So things have slowed down while they work through that process.”

The proposed San Antonio project comes as Democratic lawmakers raise concerns about the cost and conditions of ICE detention facilities in Texas and across the country.

Earlier this week, Democratic members of Congress toured the ICE detention facility in Dilley, which is operated by CoreCivic. Lawmakers said the company holds a five-year federal contract worth $15 million per month to operate the facility, regardless of how many detainees are housed there.

According to lawmakers, fewer than 400 people — including 93 children — are currently detained at the Dilley facility.

“When we started talking about the amount of resources that are being placed on a fixed basis of $15 million a month, what that equates to is $37,500 per person per month,” Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, Arizona’s 7th District said during the visit.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, criticized ICE detention contracts and questioned whether detainees at the Dilley facility are receiving adequate medical care.

“I asked the detainees how often they see a doctor,” Garcia said. “They laughed. They said they only see nurses. They don’t get to see doctors.”

According to a press release on the CoreCivic website dated March 5th, 2025 it states in part.

“The amended IGSA expires in March 2030 and may be further extended through bilateral modification. The agreement provides for a fixed monthly payment in accordance with a graduated schedule to correlate with the activation of each neighborhood within the facility. Total annual revenue once fully activated is expected to be approximately $180 million, inclusive of medical services. We began pre-activation activities earlier this year and expect this award to be accretive to earnings beginning in the second quarter of 2025.” -CoreCivic Press Release

McKee-Rodriguez said the environmental review process for the San Antonio proposal would also provide opportunities for public input through town halls and community meetings.

“If and when they start that assessment here in San Antonio, we’ll make sure you know because that process includes public input,” he said. “That means town halls, community meetings, and opportunities for residents to speak on the economic, environmental and social impact that this would have.”

He added that the city is prepared to respond if the federal government attempts to proceed without completing the required review.

“If the federal government decides to move forward with the project without the study, the city has attorneys and will take action if necessary,” McKee-Rodriguez said.