Southfield property rented out to support ICE functions, city says
(FOX 2) - The city of Southfield says it's aware that one of its properties is being leased by the federal government for purposes involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The city released a statement on Wednesday after the U.S. General Services Administration "executed a lease" for an office at a building complex between two Metro Detroit highways.
What we know:
The space in question is Oakland Towne Square, located off of Northwestern Highway, near I-696 and the Lodge Freeway.
According to a statement from the city, the GSA's lease for office space is "to support administrative and legal functions associated" with ICE.
The city added that because the commercial property is zoned for general office use, it has no say in how a private company decides who can rent out the space when the proposed use falls within existing zoning rules.
Southfield said it was told ICE enforcement officers would not be operating out of the location.
"Based on information provided to the City, the leased space is intended for administrative and legal operations."
What we don't know:
No further details about what the government would be doing out of the building were provided.
Any additional verified information would be disseminated to the public as it's made available, the city said.
What they're saying:
The company that owns the property issued a statement following the announcement from Southfield.
REDICO says it leases space to the GSA at several of its commercial properties around the country "for office and administrative use only."
"Last month, REDICO signed a new lease agreement with the United States of America, by and through the GSA, for ‘general office use only’ at a commercial office building in Southfield, Michigan. The terms of this lease allow GSA to utilize the space for any of its departments."
The statement includes details that GSA's lease "explicitly prohibits any law enforcement, detention or similar activities to take place on the premises."
Zoom out:
Concerns about ICE operations in Michigan have grown in recent weeks amid clashes with immigration agents in Minnesota.
Rumors about a detention center being built in Southeast Michigan were addressed by lawmakers last week after reports that one facility had been proposed in Romulus.
Currently, there is no verified information that an ICE facility is coming to the community, the mayor of the Wayne County city said.
Reported ICE detention facility in Romulus raises concerns among state lawmakers
Michigan lawmakers are sounding off after a report that Romulus could be a site for a new proposed ICE Detention Facility.
The Source: A statement from the city of Southfield and previous reporting were cited for this story.