San Antonio Officials Grapple with Blocking ICE Detention Center

City Council explores legal options to prevent federal agency from opening facility, but faces risks of lawsuits and loss of federal grants.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The San Antonio City Council is pressing city staff to find ways to block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from opening an immigrant detention facility on the city's East Side. Council members criticized ICE's aggressive immigration enforcement and expressed concerns about the health and safety of detainees, but city attorneys warned that some potential actions could lead to lawsuits or the loss of federal funding.

Why it matters

The proposed ICE detention center has sparked outrage among San Antonians who are concerned about the impact on the local community. The city's efforts to prevent the facility highlight the tension between local control and federal immigration enforcement, as well as the legal challenges municipalities face in trying to limit the activities of federal agencies.

The details

After ICE recently acquired an industrial building to convert into a detention facility, four San Antonio City Council members wrote a memo asking staff to explore ways to block the plan and put pressure on companies that work with both ICE and the city. However, city attorneys warned that some potential actions, such as barring private detention facility operators or banning federal agents from wearing masks, could be legally risky and lead to lawsuits or the loss of federal grants. The city has already been sued under a 2017 Texas law that requires police to cooperate with federal immigration agents.

  • In 2023, the San Antonio City Council voted to require businesses to post domestic violence awareness stickers in their restrooms.
  • In 2022, the city settled a lawsuit with the Texas Attorney General's office after spending $6.7 million on legal bills related to a 2017 smuggling incident.

The players

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

San Antonio City Council member who wrote a memo asking city staff to explore ways to block the ICE detention facility plan.

Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General who sued San Antonio in 2017 over the city's handling of undocumented immigrants.

Andy Segovia

San Antonio City Attorney who said the city-owned utilities would be legally required to provide power and water to the ICE facility.

Priscilla Olivarez

Attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center who said the proposed ICE detention center would lead to more unlawful arrests and rights violations of community members.

Oakmont Industrial Group

Atlanta-based company that sold a vacant industrial building to ICE for $66.1 million to be converted into a detention facility.

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What they’re saying

“We must be sure that there's no unmet expectations, because we will not be able to prevent immigration enforcement within San Antonio.”

— Andy Segovia, San Antonio City Attorney (expressnews.com)

“Your community has shown that it is willing to fight for the city. And I would just like to ask that you would do the same.”

— Jonah Wilson-Leos (expressnews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.