SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Protests Against ICE Facility

A gathering of nearly 100 demonstrators assembled outside a warehouse to voice their opposition to U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE)’s intention to convert the site into a processing and detention center. The Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) organized the protest, which primarily featured elderly participants holding signs that criticized ICE and joining in chants led by speakers.

According to reports, the warehouse was purchased for over $66 million in early February, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement listed as the buyer in documents released by Bexar County officials.

Some older protesters were transported by PSL members from a designated meeting spot to the future ICE facility, waving pre-printed signs alongside those that were hand-painted on poster board or cardboard. One activist even held up a sign that had a correction for the misspelling of ICE, which read, “No ICS, No Warehouse Detention Centers.” It was clear the modification was done in a hurry, as “ICS” had been changed to “NO ICES.”

Several attendees donned Palestinian keffiyeh scarves—a frequent sight at other PSL events in San Antonio. A group of mostly elderly demonstrators chanted, “No to ice and attacks, no to deportations,” while another chant called for tearing down the barrier between Palestine and the U.S.-Mexico border.

This protest is part of a larger initiative by PSL and local leaders aimed at halting the establishment of the facility. San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has reached out to newly appointed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, urging him to reconsider the plans, as reported by local media. In a recent letter, Ortiz-Jones stated, “My community has no interest in hosting an ICE processing facility.”

The letter, sent on April 8, 2026, highlighted concerns over the lack of communication between her office and ICE. Ortiz-Jones noted, “Despite repeated attempts, neither my office nor city staff have received formal notification of ICE’s reported purchase and potential use of the over 640,000 square foot warehouse located at 542 Access Road, SE Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas.”

This letter marked the second correspondence to DHS concerning the proposed San Antonio processing and detention center in recent months. Earlier in February, Ortiz-Jones expressed her “strong opposition” to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, requesting a discussion about the facility’s effects on the community.

Joining her, Bexar County Commissioners also expressed their disapproval, passing a resolution in early March that raised concerns about the facility, which has yet to open.

As highlighted in reports, the purchase aligns with ICE’s “Detention and Restructuring” plan aimed at enhancing detention capacity and expediting the deportation of individuals deemed criminal aliens. An internal ICE memo indicates that this initiative seeks to address ongoing issues within the immigration system, such as overcrowded facilities and backlogs in deportation processes.

According to a memo published on the New Hampshire Governor’s website in February, the restructuring plan involves acquiring and renovating eight large-scale detention centers and 16 processing facilities, in addition to ten existing ‘turnkey’ facilities already managed by ICE ERO.

The overall costs related to the acquisition and implementation of this plan are projected at $38.3 billion, with funding set to be allocated through the One Big Beautiful Bill.