The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is in negotiations to acquire a Virginia warehouse owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, aiming to convert it into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. In a letter dated January 21 addressed to Hanover County officials in Virginia, the Department of Homeland Security expressed its intention to buy and refurbish the approximately 550,000-square-foot warehouse property, currently under the ownership of Jim Pattison Developments since 2022. The letter mentioned that ICE might make both exterior and interior modifications to the existing warehouse, including the construction of holding and processing areas.
Jim Pattison, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, oversees a conglomerate, the Jim Pattison Group, which operates across various industries such as real estate, automotive, media, and retail. Neither the Jim Pattison Group nor Jim Pattison Developments responded immediately to requests for comments on the matter. The prospect of this deal has incited criticism and disapproval, including from the B.C. Green Party leader who is advocating for a boycott of Pattison’s Save-on-Foods grocery stores.
Pattison is the latest Canadian entity facing backlash for its connections with ICE. The Globe and Mail reported that Vancouver tech company Hootsuite secured a $95,000 US pilot project with ICE in September, focused on monitoring social media discussions related to the immigration agency. ICE has also allocated significant funds for a bulk order of 20 armored vehicles from Roshel, a defense manufacturer based in Brampton, Ontario.
Against the backdrop of ICE’s extensive immigration enforcement actions, which have resulted in fatal encounters with American citizens, a business ethics expert emphasized the importance for companies to be transparent about their business partners to maintain employee morale and public trust. Amidst these concerns, B.C. Green Party leader Emily Lowan has urged Jim Pattison to cut ties with ICE and called for a boycott of his businesses.
Thousands of ICE officers are deployed across the U.S., particularly in areas like Minneapolis and Maine, as part of a widespread deportation initiative that has faced criticism and opposition from local authorities and residents, instilling fear within immigrant communities. Hanover County resident and advocate against immigration detention, Michael Berdan, strongly opposes the conversion of Pattison’s warehouse into an ICE facility, citing concerns about the impact on the community and Pattison’s philanthropic legacy. The Hanover County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss the potential warehouse purchase on Wednesday, January 28, with the Department of Homeland Security extending invitations to several tribes for consultation.