A planned 1 million-square-foot ICE detention hub in southern Dallas County is off the table for now.
Majestic Realty Company said Monday it will not sell or lease its Hutchins warehouse to the federal government, backing away from discussions that would have converted the property into one of the largest migrant detention centers in the country, according to the Dallas Morning News.
“God answered our prayers,” Hutchins Mayor Mario Vasquez told the outlet after learning of the decision.
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who represents the congressional district that includes Hutchins, released a statement that her office had not received communication from the Department of Homeland Security or ICE regarding the detention center, but that her office has remained in close contact with city officials and other regional elected officials “to ensure a unified and informed response.”
Internal ICE documents had identified the Majestic-owned PointSouth Logistics & Commerce Centre Building 1, at 950 I-45 North, as a candidate to house up to 9,500 migrants as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed mass deportation push. The facility was one of four proposed new detention centers in Texas, alongside sites in El Paso and San Antonio that the Department of Homeland Security has already acquired, according to the publication.
In January, multiple outlets reported that DHS had purchased the Hutchins warehouse with plans to retrofit it for detention use. Majestic pushed back this week, saying it had been contacted about a potential sale but “has not and will not” enter into an agreement with DHS for use as a detention facility. The City of Industry, California-based firm confirmed it still owns the building.
A Majestic Realty listing for the address shows a building of just over 1 million square feet, aligning with earlier descriptions. The Dallas Central Appraisal District values the property at $80.1 million.
The reversal highlights the political and reputational tightrope industrial landlords face, as federal agencies look to repurpose big-box logistics space for nontraditional uses. A document from the project’s builder shows the warehouse was originally designed for Amazon. Vasquez said he warned the company that turning the property into a detention center would “devastate” Hutchins, a small city that has leaned on warehouse development for tax base growth.
Majestic framed its decision as part of a broader economic strategy, saying it looks forward to finding a buyer or tenant that will “help drive economic growth.” The firm is one of the largest privately held developers of master-planned business parks in the U.S., with more than 400 buildings totaling about 92 million square feet nationwide. In North Texas, it’s perhaps best known for its role in redeveloping the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Community opposition also played a role. Local leaders warned that Hutchins lacks the water and sewer capacity to support what would effectively double its population overnight, as previously reported in The Real Deal.
The Rev. Eric Folkerth of Kessler Park United Methodist Church told the Dallas Morning News that local pressure and outrage likely influenced the outcome, questioning the need for a “mega center” amid reports that thousands without criminal records would be detained at the site.
— Eric Weilbacher
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