Merrillville Town Council Takes Formal Action on ICE Detention Facility Proposal
Last night, the Merrillville Town Council took an important and decisive step on an issue that has generated significant concern and conversation throughout our community. By formal vote, the Council adopted Resolution No. 26-02, a resolution unequivocally opposing the placement of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing or detention facility in industrial warehouses within the Town of Merrillville.
Because this is a major topic for many residents, business owners, and community stakeholders, I want to clearly explain what this resolution does, why it was necessary, and what it means going forward.
Why the Council Acted
Concerns about a potential ICE facility in Merrillville arose following a national media report indicating that the federal government had produced a draft solicitation exploring the use of large industrial warehouses as immigration processing or detention facilities. According to that reporting, Merrillville was identified as a possible location for a facility housing hundreds of detainees.
It is important for residents to understand this key point:
The Town of Merrillville has received no official notice, communication, inquiry, or request from ICE or any federal agency regarding the placement of such a facility in our town.
Despite that lack of communication, the possibility alone raised serious questions about land use, public safety, infrastructure capacity, and local control. The Town Council believed it was necessary to take a clear and proactive position rather than remain silent while speculation and uncertainty grew.
What the Resolution Says
The resolution adopted by the Council makes several things very clear:
Merrillville opposes the conversion of existing industrial warehouses into an ICE processing or detention facility.
Warehouses in town were approved and built based on industrial use, not human occupancy at detention-scale levels.
Such a conversion would place unanticipated demands on water, sewer, police, fire, and emergency services, as well as other public resources.
Any facility that disregards local zoning, planning, and regulatory ordinances is unacceptable to the Town of Merrillville.
The Council’s primary obligation is to protect the public safety and welfare of residents, businesses, and visitors.
The resolution also affirms Merrillville’s long-standing commitment to cooperation with county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies—relationships that depend on communication, transparency, and respect for local governance.
Why This Matters to Merrillville
This resolution is not about politics or rhetoric—it is about local responsibility and local impact.
Large-scale detention or processing facilities are fundamentally different from warehouse operations. They introduce sustained human occupancy into buildings and areas never designed for that purpose. That change has real-world consequences for:
Infrastructure capacity
Emergency response readiness
Traffic and transportation patterns
Long-term land use planning
Quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods
Without consultation, planning, or consent, those impacts fall directly on the town and its residents. The Council’s action makes it clear that Merrillville expects to be part of any conversation that could significantly affect our community.
What The Resolution Does - and Does Not - Do
This resolution expresses the official position of the Merrillville Town Council. It sends a clear message that Merrillville is not an appropriate location for such a facility and that any attempt to place one here without regard to local ordinances and community impact will be met with firm opposition.
At the same time, residents should understand that this resolution does not indicate that a facility is currently approved or under construction. It is a proactive step—one taken to provide clarity, transparency, and reassurance to the community.
Commitment to Transparency
As Town Council President, I believe residents deserve timely, accurate information—especially when issues of this magnitude arise. I will continue using this blog to keep you informed about developments, facts, and actions taken by your local government.
We will also post information on the town’s website located here: www.merrillville.in.gov
If new information emerges or if the situation changes, I will share it. Until then, this resolution stands as a clear reflection of the Council’s priorities: local control, public safety, responsible planning, and respect for the Merrillville community.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out, attended meetings, and stayed engaged. Community involvement matters, and it helps guide the decisions we make on your behalf.
— Rick Bella
President, Merrillville Town Council