Statement of Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, regarding the legal action filed by the city of San Antonio opposing the potential immigration detention facility on the east…

Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio expressed support for the City of San Antonio's legal action against a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility on the city's east side. The city filed a civil complaint against the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, alleging the federal government has refused to provide information and has ignored requirements for local permits and environmental assessments.

The proposed facility would occupy a 640,000 square-foot warehouse designed for storing and moving commercial goods rather than housing people. If converted, the site could hold up to 1,500 beds. The city's lawsuit claims the federal government is purchasing warehouses nationwide to retrofit them into detention centers to facilitate deportation operations. Local concerns include potential negative impacts on water and sewage systems, public health, safety, and emergency services.

Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, said the prospect of holding thousands of families in large warehouses should challenge the conscience of Americans. He noted that all people are human beings created in the image and likeness of God, regardless of their immigration status.