The Department of Homeland Security has agreed to conduct a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of a proposed immigration detention and processing facility on San Antonio’s East Side, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said on Monday. The agreement could resolve the central dispute in a federal lawsuit the city filed on Oct. 13 against DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the San Antonio Report, the city’s suit seeks to halt the conversion of a nearly 640,000‑square‑foot warehouse on Southeast Loop 410 into a detention center capable of holding up to 1,500 people. The lawsuit alleges that federal officials failed to complete the required environmental review before purchasing the property and moving forward with renovation plans.
City officials argue that a thorough review is needed to assess potential impacts on the surrounding community’s infrastructure, economy, and environment. Court records show that shortly after the filing, the city and federal officials began negotiating a stipulation that would eliminate the need for immediate emergency relief. A motion filed on Oct. 22 noted, “The parties are now negotiating a stipulation that would obviate the need for immediate emergency relief.” U.S. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam granted the city’s request to remove an Oct. 26 deadline for a stop‑work order, placing the injunctive request on hold and ordering a status update by noon on Nov. 30.
Mayor Jones told Texas Public Radio’s “The Source” that DHS’s commitment to the review was “the whole crux of the case.” She added that the city will ensure the review meets the standards it originally sought. “We want to make sure that that [the review] is in line with what we expect,” Jones said.
DHS did not respond to a request for comment on the agreement, nor to follow‑up inquiries about the review’s scope or whether renovation work will be paused during the process. Jones emphasized that the city will continue to monitor the project and is prepared to take additional legal action if federal officials fail to follow through.
The mayor framed the agreement as an early victory, comparing it to similar disputes in other communities where local governments have demanded environmental reviews of detention facilities. However, she stressed that the city’s broader opposition remains unchanged. “Obviously, the ultimate effect is no ICE detention facility in San Antonio,” Jones said.
City Council previously approved a resolution directing officials to explore further legal and administrative measures to prevent or delay the facility, and to address two federal office leases at the Brooks Park & Ride site on the Southeast Side. The city is still awaiting updates on those leases, which could cement a longer‑term federal immigration presence in the area.
What’s next: Both parties must submit a status report by noon on Nov. 30, as ordered by Judge Pulliam. The city says it will evaluate that report and decide whether additional legal steps are needed to protect the community’s interests.
Sources: sanantonioreport.org, tpr.org, sanantonioreport.org
