Immigration office controversial in Iowa suburb

Associated Press

6:00 PM CDT, November 5, 2010

URBANDALE, Iowa

A proposed Immigration office with holding cells for illegal immigrants is sparking concern among residents of the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale.

The Des Moines Register reported Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has rented space in a warehouse near the Days Run neighborhood.

Local operations for the agency are now housed in the federal building in downtown Des Moines.

"I understand the need for the facility, but the location is inappropriate," said Susan Larsen, a mother of three who lives in the neighborhood.

She said it would be close to two schools and soccer fields.

"I'm not sure what is driving this location," Larsen said.

The U.S. General Services Administration, which provides transportation and office space to federal agencies, told Urbandale officials in a Sept. 20 letter that a new location would help agents, officers and attorneys carry out their duties.

Holding cells would be for illegal immigrants who would either be processed and released or detained in area jails.

"There will be some cells, some holding cells that folks will stay in throughout the process," GSA spokesman Charlie Cook told WHO-TV. He said they don't expect anyone to be detained in the building overnight.

Shawn Neudauer, spokesman for ICE, said in a statement released to The Associated Press that the proposed site is planned as an office space for the agency's officers and Homeland Security special agents. About 10 percent of the facility would be used to process illegal immigrants, he said.

Three holding cells are rated to hold detainees less than 12 hours, Neudauer said.

The cells are usually used for only 2 to 3 hours and detainees are never housed overnight, he said.

"All aliens who are transported to and from this facility will be appropriately restrained," Neudauer said. "In addition, this facility will also have a secure 'Sally Port' for vehicles so that aliens are on-loaded and offloaded inside the secure facility."

He also said illegal immigrants who are convicted of crimes would first serve their sentences before being processed at the proposed facility.

The warehouse isn't zoned for the types of work Immigration officials have proposed, and federal officials have asked Urbandale for a variance.

Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg said officials will weigh the public's concerns when deciding whether to grant the variance.

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hear the request on Monday. The zoning panel will make a recommendation to the city council, which will have the final say on the zoning change.


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