County in Virginia opposes sale, conversion of Pattison-owned warehouse to ICE facility

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A big warehouse throughout the road from an outside gear retailer has change into a flashpoint in Virginia because the U.S. grapples with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown — and a British Columbia firm has been pulled into the fray.

Lots of of individuals gathered on the Hanover County Administration constructing in Virginia Wednesday night the place native management mentioned they did not assist the conversion of a warehouse right into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility.

"The board opposes the acquisition of this property," mentioned Hanover Board of Supervisors Chair Sean Davis in entrance of a room filled with residents.

The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, which oversees ICE, is ready to buy the ability from the property arm of Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Group. The Canadian agency mentioned in a press release that it didn't know the warehouse was meant to change into an ICE holding facility on the time it agreed to promote the location.

Jim Pattison Developments mentioned it publicly listed the location for lease or sale and accepted a suggestion from "a U.S. authorities contractor" to purchase the property.

WATCH | Pattison faces backlash in Virginia county: B.C. billionaire dealing with backlash in U.S. over potential warehouse sale to ICE | Hanomansing Tonight

Businessman and philanthropist Jim Pattison is dealing with criticism over associations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Residents in Virginia are voicing their issues over the sale of a warehouse owned by Pattison that might change into an ICE facility. "A while later, we grew to become conscious of the last word proprietor and meant use of the constructing," it mentioned within the assertion dated Tuesday.

The agency mentioned the sale stays topic to approvals and shutting circumstances and it intends on "complying with all relevant legal guidelines."

Deliberate 'holding and processing' facility In a letter to Hanover County final week, the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned it plans to make use of the 43.5-acre web site as a "holding and processing" facility.

The 550,000-square-foot industrial warehouse is situated close to a taking pictures vary, a heating gear provide retailer and throughout the road from a resort within the small city of Ashland, Va., with a inhabitants of just below 8,000 individuals.

Homeland Safety mentioned that the federal division intends to develop the warehouse in Ashland, which is a part of Hanover County, to incorporate "holding and processing areas," workplaces and cafeterias. Different additions may embrace "tentage and a guard shack," the letter mentioned.

The native board mentioned past the letter from Homeland Safety, it obtained no communication from the federal authorities about its plans. Davis mentioned the situation — which had been developed for companies, inns and houses — is just not acceptable for an ICE facility.

There may be not a lot the native management can do to halt the ICE facility's improvement, because the federal authorities is mostly exempt from zoning laws. County workers will reply to the federal authorities to precise its opposition and talk potential impacts, Davis mentioned. The native legal professional is evaluating authorized choices.

The small county's consideration of the sale comes within the midst of an immigration crackdown in the US. Two U.S. residents have been shot lifeless by federal brokers in Minneapolis this month, prompting widespread protests.

Virginia is taken into account a blue state however Hanover County — a a lot quieter space than the close by capital of Richmond — has quite a lot of Republican-leaning residents.

Polarization on show The ability has already highlighted the political polarization of Hanover County amongst residents who spoke earlier than the board Wednesday.

<img loading="lazy" alt="People lining up to speak before a group of local leaders at a municipal building in Virginia" srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1d043b19-2275-4fbd-bef8-422f2ff7e207,1769657539156/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1d043b19-2275-4fbd-bef8-422f2ff7e207,1769657539156/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1d043b19-2275-4fbd-bef8-422f2ff7e207,1769657539156/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/1d043b19-2275-4fbd-bef8-422f2ff7e207,1769657539156/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C6000%2C4000%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.5" data-cy="image-img"/> Folks line as much as communicate earlier than the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday. (Kelly Geraldine Malone/The Canadian Press) Some talked about supporting ICE and U.S President Donald Trump's deportations — condemning protesters — whereas others spoke about what they see as violence towards immigrants and demonstrators by the hands of untrained federal forces.

Mark Stevenson, a bishop within the diocese of Virginia, mentioned by opposing the detention facility, the group is "standing on the elemental reality that an individual's worth is just not of their paperwork, however of their personhood, their relationships and the sacredness of their human dignity."

Mother and father informed the listening to they had been involved about security as a result of detention centre's location close to houses and shops. Others talked about the influence on close by property values.

'What we see in Minneapolis will come right here' Harry Lee Hancock III, who stood exterior the county's administrative constructing with an anti-ICE signal, mentioned "the priority about this facility is what we see in Minneapolis will come right here."

Hancock mentioned he does not suppose Jim Pattison Developments needs to be blamed however he does hope Canadian corporations take into account what their belongings might be used for earlier than they promote them.

Jim Pattison Developments, owned by British Columbia billionaire Jim Pattison, mentioned in its assertion that it might not usually touch upon a non-public transaction.

WATCH | Warehouse buy chance attracts scrutiny: Billionaire Jim Pattison's Virginia warehouse may change into ICE facility

A Canadian billionaire, who's from Saskatchewan, is in talks to promote a Virginia warehouse to the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety to be used as an ICE processing facility. CBC's Kyle Bakx joined the Morning Version to interrupt down the criticisms which have emerged about this potential deal and the way Jim Pattison Group has responded. "Nonetheless, we perceive that the dialog round immigration coverage and enforcement is especially heated, and has change into far more so over the previous few weeks," it mentioned.

"We respect that this concern is deeply essential to many individuals."

The United Meals and Industrial Staff Native 1518, a union representing meals employees throughout B.C., wrote to the Jim Pattison Group on Monday urging it to "decline any involvement that might contribute to the continuing assault on human rights."

B.C. Lawyer Basic Niki Sharma mentioned Tuesday that enterprise leaders want to contemplate whether or not their choices are contributing to the U.S. immigration crackdown.

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