North Texas Lawmaker Vows to Continue Fight Against Proposed ICE Facilities

State Rep. Aicha Davis says battle is far from over in her communities

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:23pm

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State Rep. Aicha Davis, D-DeSoto, says she knows the fight against proposed ICE detention facilities in her district is far from over. Her constituents in the community of Hutchins in southeast Dallas County pushed back against a proposed facility, with the owner of the warehouse saying it will not sell or lease to the government or allow its property to be used as a detention center. However, Davis knows it could be another city within her district that is targeted next.

Why it matters

ICE is looking to expand the number of detention facilities it has in Texas to hold migrants who are in custody and soon to be deported. This has raised concerns in communities like Hutchins, which Davis argues do not have the proper infrastructure or resources to support a large detention center holding thousands of people.

The details

The proposed Hutchins facility would have reportedly held up to 9,500 migrants, but Davis argues that the small community of fewer than 10,000 people does not have the sewer, water, healthcare, or other necessary structures to support such a large detention center. She says her community does not want such a facility, so she will not support it either.

  • On February 20, 2026, State Rep. Aicha Davis spoke out against the proposed ICE facility in Hutchins.

The players

Aicha Davis

A Democratic state representative from DeSoto, Texas, whose district includes the community of Hutchins where a proposed ICE detention facility was planned.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is reportedly looking to expand the number of detention facilities in Texas.

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What they’re saying

“This was a warehouse intended for Amazon products, not people,”

— Aicha Davis, State Representative

What’s next

Rep. Davis says the possibility of ICE looking for another building in her district is very real, so she and her constituents will remain vigilant in monitoring potential sites for new detention facilities.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between local communities and federal immigration enforcement efforts, as well as the challenges small towns face in trying to resist the establishment of large detention centers that they argue lack the necessary infrastructure and resources.