Mrvan: DHS should scrap plans for Merrillville detention center

U.S. Representative Frank J. Mrvan has taken his opposition regarding a potential Merrillville immigrant processing center to its source.

Mrvan, D-Highland, on Thursday sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressing that opposition. While he believes that people arrested should be prosecuted accordingly, he’s “deeply troubled by this Administration’s pattern of actions that undermine the constitutional civil liberties guaranteed to all people under the laws of the United States.”

Accordingly, he said he’s strongly opposed to “any plan to convert a commercial warehouse in Indiana’s First Congressional District into an ICE detention facility.”

“The Town of Merrillville and surrounding public safety departments have made clear to my office and the public that they were not consulted in this decision.  While not required, my office was also not notified,” Mrvan wrote. “This lack of transparency raises serious public safety and infrastructure concerns for our community.  I respectfully call on the Administration to reverse any decision to convert commercial buildings for the purpose of detaining individuals in our district.”

Mrvan then referenced a December 24 Washington Post article that indicated Merrillville may be selected to house a migrant processing center.

“Town officials later confirmed the report and stated the news came as a ‘complete shock,’ with no prior communication from ICE, DHS, or any federal agency. This absence of notice has understandably raised alarm among residents, local elected officials, and law enforcement leaders, many of whom have stated that existing budgetary constraints leave them without the capacity to divert resources from their current public safety responsibilities,” Mrvan wrote.

“Additionally, converting an industrial warehouse designed for commercial use into a detention facility presents serious health and safety concerns for detainees. The facility in question was not designed for human habitation and lacks the infrastructure necessary to safely accommodate individuals for extended periods.”

Town officials maintain that they still haven’t been approached by anyone about putting a processing center in town. Last month, residents read on a social media page that federal representatives conducted a site visit at a warehouse at 8719 Mississippi St., but Councilman Shawn Pettit, D-Ward 6, asserted that it didn’t happen, the Post-Tribune previously reported.

“That warehouse was built by Opus, and it’s 289,000 square-feet with no bathroom facilities. As your Ward 6 Councilman, I’m telling you ‘No. There’s no way (representatives were there),” Pettit said. “I live closer to that area than you do, and I watch those warehouses like a hawk. I did see a squad and two other cars out there today.”

Patty Gibbs, a spokeswoman for Opus, told the Post-Tribune via email that the building is still for lease.

“We can confirm that our Merrillville Industrial building is not under contract, does not have a transaction pending, and remains available for sale or lease,” Gibbs said. “Consistent with historical business practices, Opus does not disclose details regarding prospective transactions.”

At its January 27 meeting, the town approved a resolution denouncing any sort of detention or processing center. Town Attorney Joe Sventanoff, however, previously told the Post-Tribune that if DHS decides Merrillville is its spot, there’s likely little it can do to stop it.

“I don’t think any municipality wants one of these in their town,” Town Council President Rick Bella, D-5, added. “We’ve reached out to DHS and let them know our feelings, and we have zoning for these warehouses that isn’t conducive to what they want, but we are concerned that federal law will overrule anything we have.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.