Billionaire Trump Supporter Blocks Sale of Texas Warehouse to ICE

Majestic Realty Co. refuses to sell facility that could hold up to 9,500 detainees

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Billionaire Edward Roski Jr., a longtime Republican donor and co-owner of the Los Angeles Kings and Lakers, has refused to sell a 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Texas to the Department of Homeland Security for use as an ICE detention center. Majestic Realty Co., Roski's real estate firm, stated it "has not and will not enter into any agreement" to sell or lease the property to DHS for detention purposes, citing community backlash against the plans.

Why it matters

This decision by a prominent Trump supporter highlights the growing opposition to the expansion of ICE detention facilities, which have been compared to "concentration camps." It also demonstrates how community pressure can influence the business decisions of major real estate companies, even those with political ties to the administration.

The details

The warehouse was one of more than two dozen locations identified by DHS as potential detention center sites. Last year, $45 billion was allocated to build new detention facilities, and the administration plans to build more than two dozen "mega centers" or converted warehouses to detain immigrants. However, Majestic Realty Co. declined to comment beyond its statement rejecting the sale, and the company did not give a specific reason for its decision.

  • In January 2026, the DHS bought sites in Williamsport, Md. for $102.4 million and in Surprise, Ariz. for $70 million for new detention facilities.
  • Last year, $45 billion was allocated to build new detention facilities in the One Big Beautiful Big Act.

The players

Edward Roski, Jr.

A billionaire Trump supporter, co-owner of the Los Angeles Kings and Lakers, and owner of Majestic Realty Co., a real estate firm that refused to sell a warehouse to the DHS for use as an ICE detention center.

Majestic Realty Co.

A Los Angeles-based real estate company owned by Edward Roski Jr. that refused to sell a 1 million-square-foot warehouse to the DHS for use as an ICE detention facility.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that approached Majestic Realty Co. to purchase the warehouse property for use as an ICE detention center, as part of the administration's plans to build more than two dozen new detention facilities.

Mario Vasquez

The mayor of Hutchins, Texas, a town of 6,000 people, who opposed the potential ICE facility, stating the town's warehouses "are for storage, not for holding people."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Majestic Realty Co. has not and will not enter into any agreement for the purchase or lease of any building to the Department of Homeland Security for use as a detention facility.”

— Majestic Realty Co. (Fortune)

“I want to first commend the owner of the building, Majestic Realty, for their decision, and we look forward to working with Majestic Realty to find a tenant that is a good fit for the City of Hutchins.”

— Mario Vasquez, Mayor of Hutchins, Texas (Fortune)

What’s next

The administration's plans to build more than two dozen new detention facilities across the country are likely to face continued opposition from local communities and real estate companies unwilling to participate in the expansion of the immigration detention system.

The takeaway

This decision by a prominent Trump supporter highlights the growing grassroots opposition to the expansion of ICE detention facilities, even among those with political ties to the administration. It demonstrates how community pressure can influence the business decisions of major real estate companies and underscores the challenges the administration faces in implementing its detention center expansion plans.