OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt quashed the growing furor over a proposed ICE immigration facility in south Oklahoma City with a statement posted to social media Thursday morning announcing the deal is off.
“This morning, I met with the ownership of the property at 2800 S. Council Road in Southwest Oklahoma City,” reads Holt’s statement. “The owners are not residents of Oklahoma, and this is the only property they own in Oklahoma City.
“The owners of the property at 2800 S. Council Road confirmed to me this morning that they are no longer engaged with the Department of Homeland Security about a potential acquisition or lease of this property,” Holt continued. “I commend the owners for their decision and thank them on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City.
“As Mayor, I ask that every single property owner in Oklahoma City exhibit the same concern for our community in the days ahead,” Holt said.
Holt is in Washington, D.C. this week, presiding over the annual winter meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors (he was elected to serve as the President of the organization in June 2025), and thus could not attend Tuesday’s meeting of the Oklahoma City Council, when dozens of residents signed up to speak against the proposed facility.
Attendance at Tuesday’s council meeting overflowed the council chambers with residents united in their opposition to the proposed facility.
In December, the Oklahoma City Planning Department received a letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security informing the city of the federal government’s plan to convert a warehouse at 2800 S. Council Road into a 1,500-bed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment facility. Plans for the facility included extensive fencing and a guard tower. The facility would be located just three blocks away from Western Heights Schools.
The City of Oklahoma City sent DHS a letter requesting that the federal government submit to the city’s permitting process, which would allow for public input and consideration of the environmental and health factors involved in creating such a facility at the proposed location.
However, city officials noted that the Supremacy Clause of the United States exempts the federal government from having to comply with local zoning and permitting requirements.
“It doesn’t matter that we have a law that requires there to be a special permit? The federal government doesn’t intend to comply with the city’s existing law, is that your understanding?” Ward 7 Councilman Camal Pennington asked city Planning Director Geoffrey Butler during Tuesday’s council meeting.
“They have not said one way or another,” Butler responded, “but we understand they are not required to do so. They haven’t responded to the letter as of yet.”
Residents appearing at Tuesday’s city council meeting encouraged city officials to put up some resistance, regardless of whether the city has the legal authority to block the facility.
“Whatever you can, do that…even if you don’t think it will succeed,” said one resident who signed up for public comment. “If you don’t do it, you are inviting this into our community… You are consenting to what is happening in Minneapolis to be in Oklahoma City…
“There is power in symbolism,” the resident continued. “I don’t care if it doesn’t hold up on court…it’s what you are elected for, to protect us, and we need you to protect us.”
Resident C.J. Webber-Neal said a protest was being organized to occur at the proposed location on Saturday.
“Do not let ICE come in here. Do not let the citizens of this city be terrorized,” he said. “Citizens are standing up, and we’re asking you as elected officials to do the same.”
As of Thursday, a Zillow listing for the property at 2800 S. Council Road claims it is “off market” and not for sale at this time.
