MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A Department of Homeland Security office where ICE agents work is moving.
For years, ICE agents have worked out of an office in downtown Milwaukee at Knapp and Broadway, but we've learned it's moving and expanding its space.
The new location is on Lake Park Drive, just off Interstate 41 in northwest Milwaukee.
On Wednesday afternoon, city and county leaders and community members gathered outside the new ICE office.
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Councilwoman Laressa Taylor, in whose district the office will be located, said they had no input from the community in the move. Others expressed concerns that the site could be used as an immigrant detention facility.
The controversy began with a press release from Taylor's office saying a proposed ICE detention center would open on Milwaukee's northwest side.
“It is so important that we are informed about what is happening around us, especially when it comes to government agencies, which could potentially increase the anxiety levels of many citizens in our city,” Taylor said at Wednesday's press conference.
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At that news conference, other local leaders said the facility could be used to house and detain immigrants.
“We stand with Councilwoman Taylor against a possible proposed ICE detention center in her district and against the separation of immigrant families in our city,” said Councilwoman Jocasta Zamarripa.
During Wednesday's press conference, TMJ4 asked several times why elected officials said the facility would be used to detain immigrants.
“So just to be clear: There is no information that we don't have that you have that this is going to be converted into a detention center?” TMJ4's Jenna Rae asked.
“No, no, you’re exactly right. They have the information we have and it is currently designated as a non-incarcerated and incarcerated processing center downtown,” Taylor responded.
Documents Rae obtained from Taylor's office show this is not a planned detention facility. It is a processing plant.
Documents show the government office will be used to process non-detainee reports and detainees for transportation to detention centers.
Watch: Milwaukee ICE office moves to northwest side
The Milwaukee ICE office will be relocated to the northwest side
Still, the documents also show the federal government making changes to the building, such as blocking interior windows, installing 8- and 14-foot-tall privacy fences and creating a Sally Port entrance with a chain-link fence.
“I think my first reaction was the fact that we are scared,” Rosa Ochoa-Yoplac said.
“It's very scary and I hope it benefits everyone that this is just an office with paper being pushed and not a detention center with a chain-link fence,” Maria Beltran reiterated.
Ochoa-Yoplac and Beltran, who both live in Milwaukee, attended the event Wednesday. They also come from families that immigrated to the United States.
They told us that whether it was a processing plant or not, the community should have had a say on the location of the plant.
“For example, when city councilors send out letters asking if they agree with this business, this community center or this agency, we need that when it comes to the federal government,” Beltran said.
“It’s important that everyone in the community knows something is going on,” Ochoa-Yoplac added.
An ICE spokesperson said there are no ICE detention facilities listed or planned for the location in question.
We asked the spokesperson when the move would take place but received no response.
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