'No ICE detention facilities listed or planned': Despite ICE assurances, dozens of people rally in support of Milwaukee's immigrant communities

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- City and county leaders in Milwaukee say the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is looking to move an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility from downtown to the city’s northwest side.

Dozens of people rallied Wednesday, Jan. 15, against the proposal.

But ICE says it will simply continue operations that have been underway for years. Federal agencies are downplaying the plans, saying it will simply continue operations that have been underway for years.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee Alderwoman Larresa Taylor rallied a crowd of dozens to show opposition to ICE.

She and other area elected leaders addressed the crowd, saying an ICE office located near Broadway and Knapp in Milwaukee could move to a location in her district.

Alondra Garcia, a former DACA recipient who attended the rally, told us, "It's a lack of trust. I don't trust them. Nobody here trusts them."

And Deisy Espana, a daughter of immigrants, said, "I am frustrated, scared."

ICE has run its downtown processing facility for years but will soon have to move when the lease there is up.

An empty building on W. Lake Park Drive is the planned landing spot.

But immigrants, local leaders, and allies are concerned the new building would be used for mass detentions.

Stephanie Harling is the executive director of the Havenwoods Neighborhood Partnership. She said, "We're not solving any problems here. We're displacing the problem."

But despite community concern and mistrust, ICE maintains the building would not be used for overnight detention.

Alderwoman Taylor admitted as much Wednesday, saying, "They're not saying that they would house anyone overnight in this facility."

It came one day after releasing a statement identifying the facility as a detention center. She and the immigrants she represents in her district were not involved in the process of selecting the location of the new space, Taylor said.

“We are a district that has tremendous potential. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to accept any and everything and it certainly doesn’t mean we are going to let someone or something come into our district without knowledge," Alderwoman Taylor said.

The first plans for a move came all the way back in November.

A building modification request said the new facility would be used for the "processing of immigrants" and does not mention detention.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson told us, "This is a replacement facility, from my understanding, that is already in existence in Milwaukee."

And ICE reiterated Wednesday, telling us in a statement, "There are no ICE detention facilities listed or planned for the location in question."

County Supervisor Deanna Alexander is among those urging caution. Alexander told us, "If this is simply a move, then we need to have a better community discussion and make sure we have all our facts straight."

Still, immigrants and allies are concerned, like Deisy Espana. "Maybe not to hold people overnight, but processing. Either way, we just don't think ICE has a place in Milwaukee."

She added, "We just don’t need ICE to be in communities like this one, or anywhere for that matter."

Especially after President-Elect Trump promised mass deportations on the campaign trail.

Milwaukee Common Council President Jose Perez said, "People are scared, kids are scared. This is the time to push back hard."

As they wait to see what's next, many pledge to do whatever they can to oppose the move.

Mary Hoenig, the executive director of the Granville BID, said, "We will not sit back and let this happen without one heck of a fight."

The city attorney and alders are looking into their options.

But several have privately shared concerns that even if the city does not play ball and grant the zoning change, ICE can overrule them and build the facility anyway.

Wisconsin's only ICE detention center is the Dodge County Detention Facility in Juneau.