San Antonio TX East Side Warehouse — ICE Processing Center · TX · 1,500 · ICE (federal)

Overview

ICE purchased the Oakmont 410 industrial warehouse at 542 S.E. Loop 410 on San Antonio’s East Side for $66.1 million in early February 2026. The nearly 640,000-square-foot facility (assessed value ~$37M) will function as a processing center with up to 1,500 beds, with average stays of 3-7 days. Internal ICE planning documents indicate the facility is expected to be operational by November 30, 2026.

The warehouse was sold by Atlanta-based Oakmont Industrial Group. The facility is six times the size of a typical Walmart.

Part of the 24-warehouse Detention Reengineering Initiative. Texas is host to multiple facilities in this program, including the El Paso Eastwind mega-center (8,500 beds) and Camp East Montana (Fort Bliss).

Community Opposition

The facility has generated intense, multi-level opposition from community groups, elected officials at city, county, state, and federal levels, and student organizations.

Proximity to Schools

The warehouse sits directly across the highway from Essence Preparatory Public School and near Sam Houston High School, Davis Middle School, and Copernicus Park — locations that under prior policy would be treated as sensitive locations.

Opposition Groups

San Antonio for Growth on the East Side (SAGE) — CEO James Nortey leads “not in our backyard” campaign. Quote: “By having an ICE detention facility on the east side goes up against the values of our shared story of a beautiful, welcoming community.”
LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) — Texas state director Gabriel Rosales focused on slowing the project via procurement and environmental testing scrutiny.
San Antonio Unity — Rose Voz appealed to property owners not to lease to ICE at commissioners court hearing.
San Antonio Students for Peace — Student-led organization; organized Presidents Day march (~300 protesters).
Students for Change (Trinity University) — Protested outside City Hall on April 1, 2026.
Revolucion Violeta — Collaborated with Students for Change; coalition includes Latinas Unidas, TULA, Trinity Students for Justice in Palestine, Black Student Union, and PRIDE.
ICE Out of San Antonio — Umbrella opposition effort.

Elected Officials in Opposition

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — Wrote to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin (April 2026) asking DHS to reconsider. Quote: “My community is not interested in hosting an ICE processing facility and believes it will further depress economic activity in a part of town that already struggles to attract economic development.”
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai — “I absolutely stand in opposition to the ICE detention facility in San Antonio.”
Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Precinct 4) — Represents East Side; traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with civil rights attorneys and LULAC. Pushing for injunction; wants environmental impact and property appraisal investigations.
Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (Precinct 1) — Supported resolution.
Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Precinct 2) — Supported resolution.
State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins — Voiced strong opposition.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro — Joint statement opposing expansion.
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar — Joint statement calling detention centers “warehouses that indiscriminately lock people up.”
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar — Investigating whether federal funds were properly utilized.

Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (District 2)

Led early city council efforts to explore options to block the facility.

Government Actions

Bexar County Commissioners Court — March 10, 2026

Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a resolution expressing “strong opposition” to the ICE facility:

YES: Judge Peter Sakai, Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4), Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct. 1), Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Pct. 2)
NO: Commissioner Grant Moody (Pct. 3, Republican) — called it “political posturing,” voted via video, concerned about damaging federal relations

Community members packed the hearing. Notable speakers:

Rose Voz (San Antonio Unity) — appealed to property owners not to lease to ICE
Enjolras Ruiz — testified that local ICE roundups leave the community “anxious and fearful”

The resolution calls on ICE to:

Operate transparently regarding local facilities
Consider Bexar County residents’ voices
Follow federal standards and constitutional protections for detainee health, safety, due process, and counsel access

The resolution also documented concerns about “rotten food, inadequate medical care, disease, and unsafe conditions” in ICE facilities.

San Antonio City Council — March 5, 2026

City Council voted 8-2 to explore zoning changes and a possible moratorium on private detention facilities:

NO votes: Councilwoman Misty Spears (D9), Councilman Marc Whyte (D10) — Whyte called it “an attempt to use the city’s Unified Development Code as an easy way to circumvent federal immigration law.”
Absent: Councilman Ric Galvan (D6)
Amendment by Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2): Passed 8-2, directing staff to begin process of creating a moratorium on private detention facilities.

Limitation: City staff acknowledged these efforts would not directly affect the East Side ICE facility due to federal property immunity from local zoning (Supremacy Clause).

City Council planned to vote on private detention facility code changes at its April 16, 2026 meeting.

San Antonio City Council — February 12, 2026

Council approved a resolution to explore interventions and impacts of federal immigration enforcement.

Legal Strategy

City of San Antonio: City Attorney Andy Segovia engaged a national law firm with EPA expertise; preparing court documents for an environmental law claim. Referenced a Maryland case where a federal judge temporarily blocked a similar warehouse-to-detention conversion over environmental review violations.
Commissioner Calvert: Pushing for injunction to investigate whether environmental impact statement and formal property appraisal were completed before purchase. Met with national civil rights attorneys in D.C.
LULAC: Focused on procurement and environmental testing requirements as delay tactics.

DHS Pause (April 2026)

DHS has temporarily halted new warehouse purchases while reviewing contracts from the previous administration (signed under Secretary Kristi Noem). Previously completed acquisitions — including the San Antonio purchase — are reportedly under review. Mayor Jones wrote to new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging reconsideration.

Key Details

Purchase price: $66.1M
Property assessed value: ~$37M
Facility size: ~640,000 sq ft
Planned capacity: Up to 1,500 beds
Facility type: Regional processing center (3-7 day avg stays)
Seller: Oakmont Industrial Group (Atlanta)
Address: 542 S.E. Loop 410 Access Rd.
Expected operational date: November 30, 2026
Nearby schools: Essence Preparatory, Sam Houston High School, Davis Middle School

Context

Commissioner Calvert raised concerns that “up to ten-thousand people may be housed there” and urged the city to withhold utilities “until they have concessions based upon health and safety.” The disparity between the $66M purchase price and ~$37M assessed value has drawn scrutiny.

The San Antonio fight mirrors opposition in other warehouse-conversion cities. See: howard-county-md-elkridge-blocked, okc-warehouse-blocked, washington-county-md-warehouse-fight.

Detention Pipeline

San Antonio TX East Side Warehouse — ICE Processing Center