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San Antonio Officials Explore Zoning Changes to Limit Detention Centers
City Council directs staff to research policies to prevent or regulate federal immigration detention facilities.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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The San Antonio City Council voted 8-2 to direct city staff to explore potential code and policy changes that could be used to prevent or regulate detention centers, including setting minimum distance requirements from housing and parks, and creating a new zoning category. However, the Council acknowledged their options are limited as properties owned or leased by the federal government are exempt from local rules. The move comes in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) plan to open a 1,500-bed detention facility in an East Side industrial building, which has raised concerns among residents about the impact on the community.
Why it matters
San Antonio officials are seeking ways to limit the expansion of immigration detention centers within the city, amid growing concerns from residents about the health, safety and community impact of such facilities. While the city has limited authority over federal properties, the Council vote signals an effort to explore all available options to prevent or regulate the proposed ICE detention center.
The details
ICE purchased a property on the East Side of San Antonio for $66.1 million in January 2026 with plans to convert it into a 1,500-bed detention center. The City Council voted to direct staff to research potential code and policy changes, such as setting minimum distance requirements from housing and parks, and creating a new zoning category for detention centers. However, the Council acknowledged their options are constrained as federal properties are exempt from local rules. Some Council members argued the city should not use zoning laws to make immigration policy, while others urged residents to pressure state lawmakers to curb ICE funding.
- On February 12, 2026, San Antonio residents attended a City Council meeting to voice concerns about ICE's plans.
- On March 5, 2026, the San Antonio City Council voted 8-2 to direct staff to explore code and policy changes to prevent or regulate detention centers.
- In January 2026, ICE purchased a property on the East Side of San Antonio for $66.1 million to convert into a 1,500-bed detention center.
The players
Hilda Santiago
A San Antonio resident who spoke at the City Council meeting about her husband being detained by ICE, despite their efforts to secure his immigration status.
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez
A San Antonio City Council member who represents the district that includes the proposed ICE detention center, and urged residents to pressure state lawmakers to curb ICE funding.
Marc Whyte
A San Antonio City Council member who opposed directing staff to evaluate code and policy changes, arguing it was an attempt to use zoning as a vehicle to make immigration policy.
Misty Spears
A San Antonio City Council member who opposed directing staff to evaluate code and policy changes related to detention centers.
Oakmont Industrial Group
The real estate company that sold the East Side property to ICE for $66.1 million.
What they’re saying
“I say all this to illustrate the harm immigration detention is already causing San Antonio residents, harm that would be multiplied by more than 1,500, the number of beds proposed for the San Antonio facility.”
— Hilda Santiago, San Antonio Resident (San Antonio Express-News)
“They are allowing this behavior. They are funding ICE actively. They are actively promoting and accepting the creation of these facilities, and then they're pushing the blame onto us.”
— Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio City Council Member (San Antonio Express-News)
“This is an attempt to use the (Unified Development Code) as a vehicle to make immigration policy. That's wrong, and that sets a dangerous precedent for things that could happen in the future.”
— Marc Whyte, San Antonio City Council Member (San Antonio Express-News)
What’s next
The San Antonio City Council directed staff to establish a moratorium on new detention centers while they research potential code and policy changes. The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the city to implement any new regulations that could impact ICE's plans for the East Side facility.
The takeaway
San Antonio officials are limited in their ability to prevent the opening of the proposed ICE detention center, as federal properties are exempt from local rules. However, the City Council's vote to explore all available options signals an effort to mitigate the community impact of such facilities and set a precedent for future battles over immigration detention centers.
