Hours after ICE toured a Kansas City warehouse, council blocks federal detention center permits
KCUR • • nation
Key Points:
- Federal agents from Homeland Security and ICE toured a large, empty warehouse in south Kansas City as a potential site for a massive immigrant detention center holding up to 7,500 beds, confirming local rumors and sparking community concern.
- In response, Kansas City’s city council quickly approved a moratorium on permits and zoning approvals for nonmunicipal detention facilities, effective until January 2031, though it remains uncertain if this can legally block federal plans.
- The warehouse, located near Botts Road in an industrial area, was previously marketed for industrial use and is owned by a private entity tied to a redevelopment project aimed at job creation, complicating opposition efforts.
- Local leaders, including Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca IV, City Council
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