County Fight Contested

Bexar County TX — Community Opposition to East Side ICE Warehouse

Bexar, TX FIPS 48029

Current status: County passed 4-1 opposition resolution; city voted 8-2 for moratorium exploration; legal challenges in preparation; DHS reviewing purchase under new secretary

The Fight

After ICE purchased a 640,000-square-foot warehouse at 542 S.E. Loop 410 for $66.1 million in February 2026 — planning a 1,500-bed processing center operational by November 2026 — a broad coalition of community groups, elected officials, and student organizations mobilized to oppose it. The facility sits on the historically disinvested East Side, directly across the highway from Essence Preparatory Public School and near Sam Houston High School and Davis Middle School.

Opposition has escalated through multiple channels: Bexar County Commissioners passed a formal opposition resolution (4-1), San Antonio City Council voted to explore zoning moratoriums (8-2), the mayor wrote to new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging reconsideration, and the city is preparing an environmental law complaint with a national law firm. Commissioner Tommy Calvert is pursuing a potential injunction challenging whether environmental impact and appraisal requirements were met.

Key Details

Timeline

Late Jan 2026: Reports emerge that ICE is close to purchasing East Side warehouse; neighbors express concern.
Jan 30, 2026: Hundreds march in downtown San Antonio as part of nationwide anti-ICE protest. Students at multiple high schools walk out.
Early Feb 2026: ICE closes $66.1M purchase of Oakmont 410 warehouse from Oakmont Industrial Group (Atlanta). Property assessed at ~$37M.
Feb 3, 2026: San Antonio leaders begin discussing legal options to block (Axios).
Feb 12, 2026: City Council approves resolution to explore interventions and impacts of federal immigration enforcement.
Feb 16, 2026: San Antonio Students for Peace organize Presidents Day march with ~300 protesters; students from 50+ schools participate.
Late Feb 2026: Commissioner Calvert travels to Washington, D.C. to meet with civil rights attorneys and LULAC.
Mar 5, 2026: San Antonio City Council votes 8-2 to explore zoning changes and moratorium on private detention facilities. Amendment by Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) directs staff to begin moratorium process. NO votes: Spears (D9), Whyte (D10).
Mar 9, 2026: TPR reports county expected to pass opposition resolution.
Mar 10, 2026: Bexar County Commissioners Court votes 4-1 to formally oppose ICE facility. Protesters pack the hearing. Commissioner Grant Moody (R, Pct. 3) casts sole no vote.
Apr 1, 2026: Trinity University Students for Change and Revolucion Violeta protest outside City Hall.
Apr 9-10, 2026: Mayor Jones writes to DHS Secretary Mullin; city reveals engagement of national EPA law firm and preparation of court documents.
Apr 16, 2026: City Council planned vote on private detention facility code changes.

Actors

Community Groups:

San Antonio for Growth on the East Side (SAGE) — CEO James Nortey: “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 — TX state director Gabriel Rosales focused on procurement and environmental testing scrutiny as delay tactics.
San Antonio Unity — Rose Voz spoke at commissioners court, appealed to property owners not to lease to ICE.
San Antonio Students for Peace — Organized Presidents Day march with 50+ schools.
Students for Change (Trinity University) — April 1 City Hall protest.
Revolucion Violeta — Coalition with Latinas Unidas, TULA, Trinity Students for Justice in Palestine, BSU, PRIDE.
ICE Out of San Antonio — Umbrella opposition effort.

Elected Officials:

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — Letter to DHS Secretary Mullin opposing facility.
County Judge Peter Sakai — “I absolutely stand in opposition.”
Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4) — East Side representative; D.C. meetings with civil rights attorneys; pushing injunction.
Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores (Pct. 1) — Urged protesters to vote.
Commissioner Justin Rodriguez (Pct. 2) — Defended resolution.
Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) — Led moratorium amendment.
State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins — Voiced opposition.
U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, Greg Casar, Henry Cuellar — Federal-level opposition; Cuellar investigating procurement.

Legal Actions

Environmental law claim (City of San Antonio): City Attorney Andy Segovia engaged national EPA law firm; preparing court documents. Referenced successful Maryland precedent where a federal judge temporarily blocked a similar warehouse-to-detention conversion over environmental review violations.
Injunction push (Commissioner Calvert): Challenging whether environmental impact statement and formal property appraisal were completed before $66.1M purchase.
LULAC: Procurement and environmental testing requirements as legal delay strategy.

DHS Pause

As of April 2026, DHS has temporarily halted new warehouse purchases while reviewing contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem. Previously completed acquisitions, including San Antonio, are reportedly under review by new Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Limitations

Federal property is immune from local zoning under Supremacy Clause — city zoning moratorium would not directly affect the East Side facility.
County resolution is non-binding; commissioners acknowledged limited direct authority.
Legal challenges focus on environmental review and procurement irregularities as the most viable avenues.

Sources

This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.

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