Jim Pattison Developments has made an announcement that the industrial building located in Ashland, Virginia, will not be sold for the intended use as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The development company, led by the prominent B.C. billionaire and philanthropist Jim Pattison, issued a brief statement on Friday declaring the termination of the sale transaction for the property in Ashland, Virginia.
The company has chosen not to offer any additional comments on the matter. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had revealed its plans to acquire the 17.6-hectare (43.49-acre) warehouse property for ICE operations, including potential holding and processing facilities, in a letter sent to Hanover County officials in Virginia on January 21. Jim Pattison has held ownership of the site since 2022.
Despite inquiries by CBC News, DHS has not responded. The proposed sale triggered backlash in British Columbia, with the leader of the B.C. Green Party urging a boycott of Pattison’s Save-On-Foods stores. The ICE’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions in the U.S., which resulted in the fatal shooting of two American citizens in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have heightened concerns.
Jim Pattison’s development firm clarified that they were unaware of the buyer’s identity or the intended use of the building when they accepted the initial offer for sale. The transaction was contingent on specific approvals and closing conditions, and the company typically refrains from discussing private transactions.
Acknowledging the sensitivity of the immigration policy discourse, the company stated that they respect the significance of the issue to many individuals. Residents in Hanover County, Virginia, protested the sale during a public meeting, expressing concerns about the impact on the area’s character and land use regulations.
The county’s board of supervisors expressed hope that DHS would reconsider the acquisition and seek a more suitable location for the proposed facility. Indivisible Vancouver, a Canadian-American advocacy group, had planned to protest the sale at Pattison headquarters but now plans a celebratory event following the cancellation.
Local resident Camilla Hill, who opposed the ICE facility at the county meeting, expressed gratitude for the decision not to proceed with the sale. She emphasized the lack of consultation, ethical concerns regarding ICE, and the negative implications for the community. The cross-border opposition to the sale highlights the solidarity between Canadian and American citizens amid strained international relations.
