Wicker opposes proposed ICE facility in Byhalia

Photo credit: Official U.S. Senate photo by Ayiana Andrella

Key Points

• Federal Opposition: U.S. Senator Roger Wicker formally urged DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to reconsider a plan to convert a Byhalia warehouse into a mass ICE detention site, citing infrastructure and economic concerns.
• Massive Capacity: Leaked documents and eyewitness reports describe a “mega site” proposal for the Mount Carmel Road warehouse that would house up to 8,500 detainees.
• Community Resistance: Local advocates and residents held protests in January, fearing the facility would destabilize the local Hispanic community and drain county emergency resources.

BYHALIA, Miss. – Federal plans to transform a massive industrial warehouse in Marshall County into an immigration detention “mega site” are facing fierce push back from Mississippi’s top Republican leadership and local residents alike.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., sent a formal letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday, expressing his “unwavering opposition” to the proposed acquisition of a warehouse on Mount Carmel Road. Wicker argued that converting the nearly 800,000-square-foot facility into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center would “foreclose on economic opportunities” and paralyze local infrastructure.

“The county is already experiencing meaningful growth and increased interest from employers seeking to locate or expand in North Mississippi,” Wicker wrote. “Converting this industrial asset into an ICE detention center… replaces them with a use that does not generate comparable economic returns or community benefits.”

A “Mega Site” in the Making

The warehouse, located at 280 Mount Carmel Road, was originally designed for logistics and distribution in the Interchange Commerce Center. However, leaked federal documents obtained by local advocacy groups and media outlets suggest the site is one of 24 locations nationwide being scouted for a rapid expansion of ICE’s detention capacity.

The documents indicate the Byhalia facility could hold as many as 8,500 beds. Critics, including real estate experts and local activists, have questioned the feasibility of housing thousands of individuals in a building designed for cargo, not human habitation.

Wicker echoed these concerns, noting that Byhalia’s existing water, sewer, and medical services are insufficient for a 9,000-person population increase.

Local Leadership Kept in the Dark

The proposal has caught Marshall County officials off guard. Marshall County Board of Supervisors Vice President Neil Bennett confirmed that the board was not notified of a federal site visit that took place on January 16.

“We weren’t aware of the visit beforehand because it is a privately owned building,” Bennett said.

While federal projects often bypass local zoning, the lack of transparency has fueled anxiety. During a protest organized by the advocacy group Vecindarios901 last month, residents expressed fears that an increased ICE presence would lead to the profiling and displacement of the area’s Hispanic workforce.

Economic Stakes

The Mount Carmel Road site is a cornerstone of Marshall County’s industrial strategy. Local leaders had intended the space to attract high-paying jobs in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.

By repurposing the site for detention, Wicker and local advocates argue the federal government is effectively stripping the community of its primary economic engine.

“They don’t want blood money,” said Cliff Johnson, a candidate for Mississippi’s 1st Congressional District, during the January rally. “They want jobs that build the community, not tear it apart.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, DHS has not issued a formal response to Wicker’s letter or confirmed if a final lease agreement for the property has been signed.