A controversial plan to establish a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Milwaukee’s 9th Aldermanic District has drawn strong opposition from local officials and community leaders.
Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, who represents the district, issued a statement on January 14 detailing her concerns about the proposal, which involved the confinement of detainees at 11925 W. Lake Park Drive.
She said the plan was symptomatic of a broader pattern in which detention facilities have been dumped in districts like the 9th without proper public input or transparency.
A CONCERNING REQUEST
According to Alderwoman Taylor, the city received a proposal focused on modifications to the building located at Lake Park Drive which would allow for the secure transport of individuals to and from the site.
“We in District 9 have received a request, through a third party, to support a federal agency as it plans to move into our district. That agency is ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) under the Department of Homeland Security,” said Alderwoman Taylor in a statement. “Those modifications include adding a sally port and a chain link fence with privacy slats. A sally port, in respect to customs, will be used to transport prisoners to and from the facility.”
Requests for such architectural modifications usually come with detailed explanations about security protocols and federal standards, but those ommissions were glaringly absent in this case.
“I want District 9, and the rest of the city, to know that we do not support the Department of Homeland Security in their decision to move into our district, and we definitely do not support any such modifications to any building in our district as a location to house prisoners,” said Alderwoman Taylor.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND DISTRICT BACKGROUND
The 9th Aldermanic District has long grappled with the location of facilities that local officials and residents believe should be more equitably distributed throughout Milwaukee County. Past decisions by state and federal authorities have resulted in an unfair burden on districts like the 9th.
“Understand that we did not have representation when the Department of Corrections practically forced the location of a 32-bed youth detention facility on us,” said Alderwoman Taylor.
That youth center met with vocal objections from neighborhood groups and local officials who argued that there had been insufficient public input. The community felt that their concerns about public safety, property values, and the well-being of detained youths were overlooked.
Some community advocates say that placing multiple detention facilities in such a close proximity to a residential area could affect public perception of the district and hinder the area’s economic development. They argue that limiting a neighborhood’s identity to detention centers could deter prospective businesses and homeowners from relocating there, instead seeking communities that do not hold the stigma of multiple secure facilities.
THE PROPOSED ICE FACILITY
ICE, formed in 2003 as part of the Department of Homeland Security, is charged with immigration law enforcement and investigations into cross-border crimes. The agency is also responsible for the detention and removal of individuals who are not legally present in the United States.
While ICE offices and detention centers exist throughout the country, their expansions or relocations often spark concern among local communities. Some question the necessity of detention spaces in certain areas, particularly where community members may have limited resources to engage with federal agencies or to mount robust opposition.
In this instance, the plan would presumably allow ICE officers to hold, process, or transfer individuals who are awaiting immigration court proceedings or potential deportation in a densely populated neighborhood of Milwaukee. So far no detailed plans have been released about the site by immigration authorities.
Critics say the proposed building modifications would create a detention environment. Fencing and reinforced security installations often spark questions about community safety and neighborhood aesthetics, prompting some residents to worry about property values and the impact on nearby businesses.
ALDERWOMAN TAYLOR’S RESPONSE
Since taking office, Alderwoman Taylor has focused on community-oriented development, small business growth, and fairer representation of the district’s residents in major city decisions. In her statement, she wrote that the proposal was especially concerning because it seemed to appear suddenly and with minimal consultation.
“This is a very alarming development, and it is only fair and right to make the residents of District 9 and the entire city aware as I, with the support of my colleagues, begin to collect information and look for answers of what can be done about it,” said Alderwoman Taylor.
She noted that District 9 should not continue to bear the brunt of custodial institutions.
“Milwaukee’s 9th Aldermanic District will no longer be Wisconsin’s dumping ground for detention facilities,” Alderwoman Taylor added.
© Photo
Lee Matz
