Congressman Cleaver Presses Secretary of Homeland Security on Proposed Immigration Detention Center in Kansas City

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem requesting a meeting with her, local law enforcement, and area officials to discuss the proposed immigration detention center in Kansas City, Missouri. The letter underscores deep and growing opposition from the community and calls out DHS's failure to respond to questions first raised by the Congressman in a January 2026 letter. In the earlier correspondence, Rep. Cleaver condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) actions surrounding the proposed facility and raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process and the inhumane practice of warehousing people in detention centers. The letter also warned that the continued expansion of these facilities threatens due process, civil liberties, and the fundamental human rights of both immigrants and American citizens - concerns that, to this day, have gone unanswered.

"The chaos this administration brought to the streets of Minneapolis has no place in Kansas City. If there is any confusion, look to the actions of our local government. Without hesitation, the city council passed a resolution that implemented a five-year moratorium on non-municipal detention facilities. For an administration that often flexes their 'mandate' and perception of the voters' will, it would be a disrespectful miscalculation to ignore the Kansas City community," Congressman Cleaver wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Today's letter reiterates unanswered questions, requests a meeting before the end of the month to allow federal officials to hear directly from local leaders and law enforcement about the real-world consequences of the proposed facility and their united opposition against its creation, and reaffirms Rep. Cleaver's commitment to ensuring that any federal action affecting the region prioritizes community safety, transparency, and accountability.

"Given that these concerns are urgent and your office has not provided a response before the January 23, 2026 deadline, I now respectfully request that you meet with me and local officials, provide additional information to those who would be tasked with overseeing any potential facility in our jurisdiction, and allow us to share our serious concerns. The 770,000 people who call Missouri's Fifth Congressional District home deserve an explanation, and please know that silence would be an uncivil response," Cleaver concluded.

The official letter from Rep. Cleaver is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.