{"id":1052226,"date":"2026-09-09T03:48:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T03:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1052226\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T03:48:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T03:48:16","slug":"san-antonio-council-members-seek-utility-review-of-proposed-ice-detention-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1052226\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio council members seek utility review of proposed ICE detention facility"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 San Antonio City Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is asking CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System to conduct assessments of the water, sewer and electricity needs associated with a federal immigration detention facility on the East Side.<\/p>\n

The request, filed as a City Council Consideration Request, calls for an evaluation including \u201cenergy demand, water and wastewater systems, and the potential impact on current and future utility rates for San Antonio customers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The warehouse, which is U.S. government property, is expected to house between 1,000 and 1,500 detainees. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s acting director has said the facility could be operational by spring 2027.<\/p>\n

Councilmember Phyllis Viagran is among four council members supporting McKee-Rodriguez\u2019s request.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got old infrastructure in and around all of the South Side of San Antonio,\u201d Viagran said. \u201cI think that it\u2019s a fair thing to see how is this going to impact our utilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CCR raises questions about the facility\u2019s potential effect on water and sewer service, drainage, electrical demand and the reliability of the surrounding utility network. Viagran said those concerns are especially important in the South and Southeast Sides of the city, where infrastructure has been a longstanding issue.<\/p>\n

A SAWS spokesperson said, \u201cexisting water and sewer service lines are in place; however, the property owner would be responsible for larger water lines needed to support the facility\u2019s anticipated demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Viagran also questioned whether the facility\u2019s electricity needs could affect the grid, including during storms like the recent end-of-August storm that wiped out power in some areas of the city for three days.<\/p>\n

CPS Energy said it would not disclose specific customer information, including projected electricity needs for the site or potential strains on the grid.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just a lot of unanswered questions,\u201d Viagran said. \u201cIssues of infrastructure on SAWS and pipes and drainage and sewage is always a big question within District 3 on the South and the Southeast Side of town and in District 2, and I think the other is the electrical.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposal has drawn opposition from some residents in the surrounding neighborhood, according to Viagran.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand where the federal government thinks they can just move people in unless they expect to use porta-potties, which is not acceptable,\u201d Viagran said.<\/p>\n

SAWS said it plans to meet with the city\u2019s governance committee as early as next week.<\/p>\n

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