After weeks of uncertainty, the owners of a one-million square-foot warehouse in Hutchins have spoken. The California- based company said it would not sell the warehouse to the federal government to be used as an ICE detention center. What was originally planned as a protest Monday night, turned into a victory rally in front of Hutchins City Hall. The owners of the warehouse along I-45 in Hutchins tell NBC 5 there is no deal with DHS. A statement to NBC 5 reads: “While we were contacted about the potential sale of our building in Hutchins, Texas, Majestic Realty Co. has not and will not enter into any agreement for the purchase or lease of any building to the Department of Homeland Security for use as a detention facility. We’re grateful for the long-term relationship we have with Mayor Mario Vasquez and the City of Hutchins and look forward to continuing our work to find a buyer or lease tenant that will help drive economic growth.” Organizers, many of whom protested in the weeks leading to this announcement, believe this decision is largely due to their collective voices. But they’re still on alert, saying they will stay engaged and on guard for future plans. Hutchins resident Nancy Ramos said an ICE detention center would’ve taken an *emotional toll…” “It would’ve been like five minutes away from my house. I would’ve constantly had to pass through there. And just to know that it’s no longer going to be there, oh it makes my heart feel really good,” she said. Inside city hall chambers, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Nichols read a statement from the city attorney: As many of you are now aware, Majestic Realty Company released a statement earlier today that they will not be entering into any agreements for the purchase or lease of any buildings to the Department of Homeland Security for use as a detention facility. I want to first commend the owner of the building, Majestic Realty, for their decision, and we look forward to working with Majestic Realty to find a tenant that is a good fit for the City of Hutchins. The last several weeks, as you can imagine, have been challenging for many of us, both residents and elected officials. However, I want to thank everyone for their patience as we worked through these challenging issues. Both elected officials and staff heard your voices, and although we could not say much during these times due to the limited information that we had been provided, your concerns did not go unnoticed and your professional decorum shown during our city council meetings, as well as the protest here at City Hall is much appreciated. As a city council, we will continue to work towards what is best for the City of Hutchins. NBC 5 confirmed with ICE officials recently that sites are being scouted to expand detention space. Federal document reporter by The Washington Post in December indicated ICE was evaluating nearly two dozen possible sites nationwide, including Hutchins. For now, though, many Hutchins residents said they are breathing easy. ...read more read less