Viral video shows alleged arson attack on rumored ICE facility in Kansas City

Mayor expresses outrage against ICE over reported plans for a large detention center

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

A viral video purportedly shows a woman attempting to set fire to a building in Kansas City that was rumored to have been sold to the Department of Homeland Security for a future immigration detention center. The mayor condemned the alleged federal plans to house 10,000 detainees in the city, but also offered a half-hearted statement against the arson attack.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and controversy surrounding the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, particularly the use of large-scale detention facilities. The mayor's response reflects the political sensitivities around these issues at the local level.

The details

The video, recorded by a news crew reporting on the rumored ICE facility, shows a woman trying to light the building on fire. However, the company that owns the building later said it had decided not to proceed with the sale to the federal government. The motivation for the alleged arson attack is unclear, and the woman has not been apprehended.

  • The incident occurred on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The company that owns the building announced it was not moving forward with the sale to the federal government on the same day as the alleged arson attack.

The players

Quinton Lucas

The mayor of Kansas City, who expressed outrage over the reported federal plans to house 10,000 detainees in the city and offered a statement condemning the alleged arson attack.

The woman

An unidentified individual who was captured on video allegedly attempting to set fire to the building rumored to be a future ICE detention center.

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What they’re saying

“I am outraged by federal efforts to place 10,000 human beings in cages inside distribution warehouses in Kansas City or anywhere in our country.”

— Quinton Lucas, Mayor of Kansas City (Twitter)

What’s next

The authorities are still searching for the woman who allegedly attempted to set fire to the building, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and political sensitivities surrounding the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, particularly the use of large-scale detention facilities, and the potential for such controversies to escalate into acts of violence or vandalism.