Absent answers on whether a federal environmental impact study has been completed amid plans to operate an immigration detention facility in east San Antonio, the city is taking matters into its own hands.
City Council on Thursday voted 9-2 to have SAWS and CPS Energy examine the 640,000-square-foot warehouse’s impacts on local resources.
Leaders want to know about the effects on local energy and water demand, including whether residents will have to shoulder the burden of cost increases associated with the facility off Southeast Loop 410.
“To the extent applicable…. the respective assessments should also identify anticipated impacts related to parking and transportation, public health, and public safety,” states the newly approved ordinance requesting the studies.
Council asked that SAWS and CPS Energy return with their findings by early December.
The resolution also, after a late change by Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, will expand to all city departments to analyze how their services would be impacted by the detention facility.
“With this vote, we’re taking a formal step toward arming ourselves with more data and information,” he said. “This is an issue of humanity.”
The meeting came just days after a protest marched through the east side to oppose the facility.
Council members Misty Spears and Marc Whyte voted against the resolution, saying it was dangerous for a local government to try and “wage political battles.”
“This council cannot use its local authority to obstruct lawful and federal operations simply because we disagree with federal policy,” Spears said. “We are a city council. We are not Congress.”
But a majority of council said they recognized widespread community fears regarding ICE enforcement and the idea of a detention center; many said they would support legal action to try and prevent the facility.
District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito said an annual Dia de los Muertos event at Woodlawn Lake was canceled for reasons stemming from those concerns.
“It’s sad when our culture and the spirit of our city just starts falling apart in ways big and small,” she said.
Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran asked that another resolution be considered next week that pushes the city manager and city attorney to work with other local stakeholders, including Bexar County, in opposing the facility.
“This is step one,” Viagran said. “But this is not going to be won with one action today; it is going to be a continual process.”
McKee-Rodriguez, whose district includes the detention center property, submitted the initial request seeking the independent utility studies in August. Council members united to put the idea on the fast-track last week, after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said she hadn’t received a response from the Department of Homeland Security when she asked for an update on a federal environmental review.
Jones also said last week she supported taking legal action to halt renovations of the warehouse, adding the city was reviewing its options.
The federal government bought the warehouse earlier this year for $66.1 million, and this summer they awarded a contract potentially worth up to $1 billion to security firm GardaWorld to renovate it into a detention facility. ICE has said it wants to open it by June 2027, saying they plan to hold up to 1,500 individuals there on any given day.