Several hundred protesters gathered and marched in Romulus on Saturday in opposition to a 500-bed ICE detention center being planned for what is currently an industrial warehouse.
“I want people to know that what’s happening is wrong,” Jarwin Garza, 53, of Ferndale, said. “We have due process in this country under our Constitution, and it’s not being followed by the current presidential administration.”
The protesters gathered at Romulus Middle School and then marched to the 261,450-square-foot warehouse at 7525 Cogswell Street. Many were carrying signs against ICE and President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport as many immigrants as possible.
The proposal for a new ICE facility just six miles from Detroit Metropolitan Airport has generated opposition from authorities, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the city of Romulus, which have sued to stop the Department of Homeland Security’s plans in the city. Additionally, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) on Thursday introduced the Ban Warehouse Detention Act that would stop federal immigration officials from converting warehouses into detention centers.
@michiganadvance Jacob Gingerich, 22, tried to disrupt a protest in Romulus, Michigan against a plan to turn a warehouse into an ICE detentikn center. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist urges the crowd to “make some noise, they can’t drown you out”. Gingrich says he is not a MAGA supporter, BUT he is “pro-America and pro-ICE.” #romulusmichigan #icewarehouse @Garlin Gilchrist ♬ Epic News – DM Production
Carrying a loudspeaker, a microphone and a camera, 22-year-old Jacob Gingrich disrupted the march as it was underway. Gingrich, a pro-ICE social media influencer, repeatedly attempted to slow down the march, while the organizers’ marshals tried to stop him, resulting in some pushing and yelling.
Gingrich, who repeatedly spoke against illegal immigration and said current immigration policies are good for America, insisted he was not a MAGA supporter.
“I don’t support what Trump did. I don’t agree with the reasoning for going to war with Iran,” Gingrich said.
Once protesters arrived outside the warehouse, Gingrich, alongside David Shaheen, a 39-year-old Detroit resident, managed to interrupt Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat from Detroit who is running for secretary of state.
The incident escalated into shoving as several protesters surrounded the counter-protesters to prevent escalation and physical altercations.
After the marchers returned to Romulus Middle School, a second rally was held outside the warehouse, where U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) and state Reps. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) and Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) were among those who addressed the rally.
Emily Duchenne, 68, a resident of Oakland County and member of Community Aid for Empowerment, raised her concerns about a significant increase in detentions carried out by ICE in the Pontiac area and Michigan since August.
“It is very un-American to warehouse people. That is not who we are as a country,” she said. “I never thought I would live in a country with secret police that go around with masks.”
The day’s events were preceded by a hunger strike by immigrants detained at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan. According to activists at the rally, the strike is still ongoing, and they say hundreds of immigrants are participating, demanding better conditions within the facility.
“We’re hearing that guards are highlighting the names of people refusing meals and threatening them with transfer if they continue,” Ale Rojas with No Detention Centers in Michigan said.
JR Martin, also with the group, said the hunger strike at the North Lake facility is ongoing as of Saturday.
“We want to show up and amplify their demands for adequate medical care, adequate food, and real review of their cases,” Martin said. “Ultimately, we want to shut North Lake down and ensure this facility never reopens.”
