Overview

In February 2026, ICE purchased a commercial warehouse at 7525 Cogswell Street in Romulus, Michigan (Wayne County) without notice to the state, city, or public. The facility is planned to detain approximately 500 migrants and ICE claims it will bring 1,458 jobs and $33 million in tax revenue.

Key Details

• Address: 7525 Cogswell Street, Romulus, MI
• Purchase date: February 2026
• Purchase price: $34.7 million for 250,000 sq ft warehouse
• Planned capacity: ~500 beds
• Facility type: Regional processing center
• Claimed economic impact: 1,458 jobs, $33M tax revenue
• Current status: PAUSED — DHS reviewing under Secretary Mullin (April 2026)

Legal Fight

The Romulus facility is one of the most actively contested warehouse purchases (see romulus-mi-warehouse-fight):

• February 27, 2026: Michigan AG Dana Nessel demands ICE halt the plan
• March 24, 2026: City of Romulus and State of Michigan file lawsuit to block conversion

Lawsuit Allegations

The complaint alleges the warehouse is inappropriate for detention because:

• Located within a mile of an elementary school and middle school
• Abuts residential neighborhoods
• Lies within a floodplain that experienced flooding as recently as 2025
• Lacks adequate infrastructure (bathrooms, sewer system) for 500 detainees + staff

DHS Pause (April 2026)

On April 1, 2026, DHS under new Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced a pause on all warehouse purchases for detention, including a review of all contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem. The Romulus warehouse is one of 11 warehouses purchased nationally at a combined cost of $1.074 billion — all now under review.

Mullin’s DHS stated: “as with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals.” During confirmation hearings, Mullin acknowledged infrastructure concerns regarding water and sewer systems — the exact issues raised in the Romulus lawsuit.

The original plan under Noem was a $38.3 billion initiative to expand detention to 92,000 beds through 8 large-scale centers (7,000-10,000 beds each) and 16 smaller regional processing centers. The pause suggests potential recalibration, though the Trump administration’s deportation agenda remains active.

No court ruling on the Romulus lawsuit has been issued as of April 12, 2026. The case is in federal court.

Political Dynamics

Governor Whitmer has been notably silent on the issue while AG Nessel has been the primary state-level opponent. This has drawn Axios coverage of the political split.

The Romulus City Council unanimously voted on March 23, 2026 to join AG Nessel’s lawsuit against DHS and ICE.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Senate Civil Rights Committee advanced bills (SB 508, SB 510) along party lines in March 2026 that would limit ICE enforcement in schools, hospitals, and places of worship, and require body cameras on immigration officers. These face Republican opposition in the Michigan House.

Sources

• ICE confirms purchase of detention facility in southeast Michigan — Michigan Public
• AG Nessel Demands ICE Halt Plan — Michigan AG Office
• Romulus, Michigan, and state sue to block proposed ICE detention facility — ClickOnDetroit
• AG Nessel Files Lawsuit Challenging Plan — Michigan AG Office
• Gov. Whitmer silent as AG Nessel challenges proposed ICE facility — Axios Detroit
• DHS pauses new immigrant warehouse purchases amid review of Noem-era contracts — Michigan Public (Apr 1, 2026)
• DHS reviewing Michigan warehouse purchase for ICE detention center — WNEM (Apr 2, 2026)
• Romulus ICE facility future in question as DHS pauses — FOX 2 Detroit (Apr 1, 2026)
• Lawsuit over ICE detention center in Romulus heads to federal court — Axios Detroit (Mar 30, 2026)