Editor’s Note: This piece draws from firsthand reporting at the January 28 Hanover County Board of Supervisors meeting and includes the writer’s perspective as a participant-observer.
UPDATE Jan 30 2:30: The sale will not proceed according to Jim Pattison Developments HERE.
On January 28, a crowd of over 500 people filled the Hanover County Administration Building to hear the Board of Supervisors’ position on a proposed ICE detention facility on a 43-acre property in the county. Hundreds more gathered outside, holding signs and distributing flyers opposing ICE’s presence in Virginia and sharing information on community response efforts.
Citing concerns about the facility’s potential impact on local businesses and the possibility of lost tax revenue, the board expressed opposition to the project but emphasized that its authority over the final outcome is limited.
For many in attendance, the board’s stance brought a sense of relief. Still, uncertainty remains. The property is owned by 97-year-old Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, and the sale does not require approval from the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. The question of whether the facility will ultimately be built remains unresolved.
What stood out most over the course of the evening was the level of turnout from Richmond and surrounding communities. Many attendees viewed mass deportation as having broader consequences beyond any single community. Not a single person I spoke with appeared motivated by self-interest.
Ellie, a pastor at a local church, described the fear she has witnessed among families she works with. “I’m furious. My church works quite closely with the immigrant and refugee community here and our families are terrified. They’re not going to school, they’re not going to work; they are incredibly upset and anxious and that makes me furious.”
Izzie, a Randolph-Macon alum who grew up in Hanover, focused on the facility’s potential role in regional ICE operations. “Having this center go up doesn’t just affect Hanover or Richmond, it would become a major ICE deportation outlet for the entirety of the east coast from New York City and Maine all the way down to Atlanta. It would be a hub for increased activity, just like we’re seeing in Minneapolis. The violence will come to our streets and none of us are safe from that violence.”
Adam Malinowski-Liu, a Richmond resident who works in Hanover, said he views the proposed purchase as part of a broader increase in ICE activity across Virginia. “Over the last month, it’s been pretty noticeable that ICE has more presence in Richmond. When I heard about this happening so close to Richmond, I immediately recognized that this has huge implications for Virginia.”
While standing in the freezing cold at a board meeting might not be an ideal way to spend a weeknight, many attendees viewed it as one step in a broader effort to protect vulnerable communities affected by ICE. Throughout the evening, people distributed flyers with contact information for Jim Pattison’s conglomerate (cramp@jpdevelopments.com and admin@jp-group.com), as well as information on Richmond Defensa, a local community defense network.
Malinowski-Liu is involved with Richmond Defensa, which he described as a “rapid response network that is keeping track of ICE activity in Richmond.” He said the group’s primary goal is to mobilize quickly when ICE is spotted locally.
“Defensa was modeled off of similar rapid response networks that were created in Los Angeles, San Diego, Rhode Island and other places where mobilization of people has sent ICE home with their tail between their legs,” Malinowski-Liu shared.
During remarks to the crowd, Ellie emphasized that opposition alone was not enough. “What I say to people is, ‘in these times belief is not enough.’ If you believe that this is wrong, you have to take action. And that means different things for different people, but it does mean stepping out and fighting the good fight.”
I’m new to this kind of activism. It’s uncomfortable to break routine, show up in unfamiliar spaces, and engage directly with something that can feel overwhelming. Still, being there felt more constructive than watching it all unfold at a distance on my phone.
National politics hang over this issue whether local officials acknowledge it or not. Cities like Minneapolis and Los Angeles have already seen increased ICE activity, and many attendees viewed the proposed Hanover facility as part of that broader pattern. What happens next is still unclear, but the level of turnout made one thing evident: people are paying attention, and they are preparing for a longer fight.
Main photo by Q Rice
Support RVA Magazine. Support Independent Media in Richmond.
At a time when media ownership is increasingly concentrated among corporations and the wealthy, RVA Magazine has remained one of Richmond’s few independent voices. Since 2005, the magazine has provided grassroots coverage of the city’s artists, musicians, and communities, documenting the culture that defines Richmond beyond the headlines.
But we can’t do this without you. A small donation, even as little as $2, one-time or recurring, helps us continue to produce honest, local coverage free from outside interference. Every dollar makes a difference. Your support keeps us going and keeps RVA’s creative spirit alive. Thank you for standing with independent media. DONATE HERE.
We’ve got merch HERE
Subscribe to the Substack HERE
And Reddit HERE
And YouTube HERE
