San Antonio – In a interview on Texas Public Radio’s The Source, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to conduct a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the proposed immigration detention and processing facility on the city’s East Side. The agreement, she explained, addresses the central claim of the lawsuit the city filed against DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Oct. 13.
Legal background
The city’s suit seeks to halt the conversion of a 640,000‑square‑foot warehouse on Southeast Loop 410 into a detention center that could house up to 1,500 individuals. The complaint alleges that federal officials failed to complete a required NEPA environmental review before purchasing the property and moving forward with renovation plans. City officials argue that such a review is essential to assess potential impacts on local infrastructure, the economy, and the surrounding environment.
Negotiations and court action
According to court filings, negotiations between the city and federal officials began shortly after the lawsuit was filed. On Oct. 22, the city requested that a federal judge remove an Oct. 26 deadline for seeking an emergency injunction. The judge granted the request, placing the injunctive relief request on hold and ordering both parties to provide a status update by noon on Nov. 30.
Mayor’s comments
Mayor Jones said the DHS agreement represents an early victory for San Antonio’s legal strategy. “DHS has said that they will comply and do an environmental review, and so that was the whole crux of the case,” she said. She added that the city will continue to monitor the process and will pursue additional legal action if the review is not completed or if construction proceeds before the review’s conclusions are implemented.
“We want to make sure that that [the review] is in line with what we expect,” Jones said, emphasizing the city’s desire for a thorough and transparent assessment.
Unclear details
The court documents do not disclose the specific terms of the agreement, including whether DHS will pause renovation work while the review is underway. DHS declined to comment on the agreement or on the mayor’s statements.
Broader context
The mayor framed the agreement as a step toward the city’s broader goal of preventing an ICE detention facility from operating in San Antonio. City Council previously approved a resolution directing officials to explore further legal and administrative measures to block or delay the project, and to address two federal office leases at the Brooks site on the Southeast Side.
Jones noted that the city is still awaiting updates on those leases, which could establish a longer‑term federal immigration presence in the area.
Next steps
The city will provide the court with a status report by the Nov. 30 deadline. If the environmental review reveals significant adverse impacts, the city may seek additional injunctions or other remedies to protect the community.
“Look, pushing back has had the effect that we want up until now,” the mayor said. “Obviously, the ultimate effect is no ICE detention facility in San Antonio.”
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
