Activists Aim to Block Warehouse Sale for Potential ICE Detention Center

Community groups call on Platform Ventures to withdraw from the sale of a 920,000-square-foot warehouse in Kansas City.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:31pm

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Activist groups in Kansas City, including Decarcerate KC, are trying to block the sale of a massive warehouse to be used as an ICE detention center. The warehouse is owned by Platform Ventures, an investment firm, and the activists are urging the company to 'morally and ethically withdraw from the sale.' The warehouse is currently zoned for manufacturing, and any use as a detention center would require a special use permit from the city's Planning and Development office.

Why it matters

The potential sale of the warehouse to be used as an ICE detention center has sparked outrage among local activist groups who are concerned about the impact on the community. They argue that detention centers are harmful and that the city should not allow such a facility to be established. The case highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of private companies in operating detention centers.

The details

Decarcerate KC, a grassroots organization focused on issues of incarceration and policing, has been leading the effort to block the sale. The group has tried to contact Platform Ventures' leadership, but most inquiries have gone to the company's message line. The warehouse is currently zoned for manufacturing, and any use as a detention center would require a special use permit from the city's Planning and Development office, which would involve a public hearing. However, Platform Ventures has not yet sold the property, and the company has said it does not question prospective buyers on their intent after a sale is complete.

  • In October, an unsolicited offer was made to buy the warehouse.
  • In November, an engineering firm requested a Zoning Compliance Letter from the city regarding the property.

The players

Decarcerate KC

A grassroots organization that aims to 'create change around issues of incarceration and policing in Kansas City' by focusing on 'true accountability' and replacing systems of incarceration with ones 'rooted in care, restoration, and transformation.'

Platform Ventures

An investment firm that owns the 920,000-square-foot warehouse in Kansas City that is being considered for use as an ICE detention center.

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What they’re saying

“The majority of the inquiries go to their message line; however, we're not going to lose hope. We're not going to let that stop us. The more people that know, the more people can stand in and help us with that.”

— Jalisa Davis, Organizer, Decarcerate KC (KSHB)

“We are here for the people, and so we want to make sure we're supporting our neighbors where and when we can.”

— Jalisa Davis, Organizer, Decarcerate KC (KSHB)

What’s next

The Kansas City, Missouri, Planning and Development office would have to hold a public hearing before deciding whether to approve the use of the warehouse as an ICE detention center.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of private companies in operating detention centers. The activists' efforts to block the sale of the warehouse demonstrate the community's opposition to the establishment of an ICE detention facility in their neighborhood.