ACLU Documents Reveal ICE Considering Former American Hebrew Academy Campus for Detention

Files released after litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union indicate the federal government included the former American Hebrew Academy campus in Greensboro among several sites under consideration to expand U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity. The documents are heavily redacted and refer repeatedly to a “Greensboro Facility,” which local reporters and officials say is likely a reference to the 100-acre site off Hobbs Road.

The ACLU obtained the records through an open-records request and litigation, and the released paperwork lists multiple potential detention locations nationwide. The documents are difficult to interpret because many passages are redacted. Local reporting notes the federal government previously leased the American Hebrew Academy property for nearly three years with plans to house unaccompanied migrant teens; that lease ended April 1, 2025 and the government is formally returning the property to its owners after the ultimately unrealized purpose.

City leaders were clear that no federal agency has made a formal approach to municipal authorities. Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter said, “This is not something that Greensboro residents would necessarily want to see in Greensboro because there are a lot of issues going on with ICE, and with the national rhetoric right now around ICE.” In a separate comment she added, “I don’t think the community … would want something like that in the midst of Greensboro … Maybe I’m going out on a little bit of a limb here, but that is the feeling of the community. Of course, as we all know, things can change in certain administrations.” The City of Greensboro provided the following statement: “At this time, the City of Greensboro has received no communication or notification from the former American Hebrew Academy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, or any other entity regarding the use of that property—or any other facility—for detention or similar purposes. Any future change in use of a property would be required to comply with all applicable building, fire, and zoning requirements and follow established City review processes, which are designed to ensure safety and legal compliance and typically take time. The City is aware of community concerns and will continue to monitor for any official information, but there is currently no confirmed proposal before the City.” Former Mayor Nancy Vaughan added, “I think it is doubtful that the feds could overcome the significant challenges on this property.”

Local zoning history complicates any potential federal move. The AHA site was rezoned in 1999 with conditions and restrictions that local officials say excluded a detention center; Mayor Abuzuaiter and former Mayor Vaughan noted that any federal attempt to repurpose the land would trigger rezoning, building and fire reviews and public processes that typically take time.

Key uncertainties remain. The released records are redacted, and neither U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement nor the Department of Homeland Security has publicly confirmed a plan to use the site. For Guilford County residents concerned about neighborhood impacts, school proximity and local services, the next concrete steps would be official notification to the City and the formal rezoning process that carries public hearings. This local development reflects broader national debates over immigration enforcement and detention capacity, and Greensboro officials say they will continue to monitor for any official word as the community awaits clarity.