New Richmond releases timeline in immigration detention center approval process

The facility would be owned and operated by Immigration Centers of America, a for-profit company based out of Virginia.

However, before construction can begin, the city of New Richmond needs to approve.

RELATED: 500-bed immigration detention facility proposed for New Richmond, WI

An ICA spokesperson confirms they have a purchase agreement with the family that owns the land. The property is currently zoned as residential, so ICA has asked the city to rezone the land, which would allow them to build the detention center.

The applications for certified survey map and re-zoning were received on April 4 and 5.

The public process timeline released Friday states a staff report will be released next Thursday and a public forum is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 23 at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-New Richmond.

A planning commission meeting and special city council meeting will be held on May 7.

ICA says the facility will employ approximately 200 people and be situated over 20 acres.

In a frequently asked questions attachment to a release sent out Friday, the city said it fielded informal inquiries from ICA regarding the project last year, but that city staff had been informed the center was going to be developed in another Wisconsin community.

But, in January, the city said ICA reconnected with city staff to get zoning information.