Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) said he “strongly” opposes a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plan to transform a Mississippi warehouse into an ICE detention center.

“I strongly oppose DHS’s proposed plan to turn a warehouse in Byhalia, Mississippi, into an ICE detention center. I am all for immigration enforcement, but this site was meant for economic development and job creation. We cannot suddenly flood Byhalia with an influx of up to 10,000 detainees,” Wicker said.

The Clarion-Ledger explained further:

Reportedly, the Department of Homeland Security would purchase a warehouse on Mt. Carmel Road near Interstate 269 and convert it into a holding facility for deportations. No decision has been finalized.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Wicker said he supports enforcing immigration laws but urged Noem to reconsider the plan, citing potential strains on local infrastructure and public safety concerns.

“It represents an opportunity for job creation, private investment, and long-term economic growth in Marshall County. The county is already experiencing meaningful growth and increased interest from employers seeking to locate or expand in North Mississippi,” Wicker wrote in the letter to Noem.

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“Preserving limited, development-ready industrial sites is essential to sustaining this growth. Converting this industrial asset into an ICE detention center forecloses economic growth opportunities and replaces them with a use that does not generate comparable economic returns or community benefits,” he continued.

“The proposed conversion also raises serious feasibility concerns. Detention facilities impose substantial and specialized infrastructure demands—including transportation access, water, sewer and energy costs, staffing, medical care, and emergency services. From my understanding, the ICE detention facility would have a capacity exceeding 8,500 beds. Existing medical and human services infrastructure in Byhalia is insufficient to support such a large detainee population. Establishing a detention center at this site would place significant strain on local resources,” he added.

The Hill has more:

Wicker could attempt to block the facility by adding language to the full-year Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which congressional negotiators hope to pass before Feb. 13, when a stopgap funding measure will expire.

A new report by the American Immigration Council said that ICE was holding a record 73,000 people in detention centers in mid-January, a 75 percent increase since the start of President Trump’s second term.

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