The Choctaw Tribal Council approved a joint resolution opposing the placement and operation of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facility in Durant.
The vote was unanimous during a meeting of the tribal council on Saturday.
Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton released a statement in opposition to the ICE detention facility that reportedly would be at the former Big Lots warehouse.
“We oppose the location of the proposed ICE holding facility near the Choctaw Nation headquarters in Durant,” Batton said.
“We are extremely concerned about the proposed facility’s close proximity to our day care, child education center and large employee base, which provides programs and services to our tribal members, including children and elders.”
In November, the City of Durant addressed rumors that have been swirling in thecommunityaboutthepossibility of the former Big Lots Distribution Center being turned into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility.
In a statement on social media, the city said that “Officials have reason to believe that a detention center is being considered for the Big Lots facility in Durant.”
The city said at that time they had not been directly contacted about the proposed detention center.
Big Lots opened in 2004 on Enterprise Drive, and it closed in 2025 due to financial struggles.
MayorMartinTuckersaid after a council meeting in November that the building is not zoned for a detention facility.
During a meeting that was after press time this week, Durant City Council was scheduled to vote on an ordinance to amend city code to require a conditional use permit to own or operate a detention center in the city.
The ordinance states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to own or operate a detention center located within the city unless there is a conditional use permit for the detention center.
“It shall be unlawful for any person to own or operate a detention center located within the city unless the conditional use permit is postedatorneartheprincipal public entrance to the detention center in such a manner that it will be conspicuous to all who enter the premises.”
During a recent two-day session held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Tribes, leaders voted unanimously on a resolution opposing an ICE detention facility in Oklahoma.
They also voted for more formal consultation efforts from federal agencies, especially regarding agreements affecting Indian Education programs, and governmentto- governmentdialoguefrom theDepartmentofHomeland Security.
Tribal officials said the quarterly ITC event brings together leaders of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole Nations to discuss issues important to the Five Tribes.
The ITC approved six resolutions: 1. Pursue representation on leadership council for U.S. Department of Justice: Supports the nomination of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. to serve on the U.S. Department of Justice Tribal Nations Leadership Council representing the Eastern Oklahoma Region.
2.Demandtribalconsultation for agreements affecting Indian Education programs: Calls for formal tribal consultation regarding the Inter-agency Agreement between the United States Departments of the Interior and Education affecting federal Indian Education programs.
3. Call on Congress to pass the Haskell Indian Nations UniversityImprovementAct: Supportsthepromptpassing of the “Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act” to ensure Haskell’s autonomy and capacity to provide a high-quality and culturally grounded education for Native Students.
4. Recommend alternate for Haskell Indian Nations University National Board of Regents: Supports the nomination of Jennifer Pigeon for Eastern Oklahoma Region alternate to the Haskell Indian Nations University National Board of Regents.
5. Oppose the placement and operation of an ICE detention facility in Durant: Opposes the placement and operation of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Durant, Oklahoma due to its potential impacts on tribal citizens, public safety, and tribal sovereignty.
6. Call for governmentto- government consultation on ICE detention facility locations: Calls on the United States Department of Homeland Security to engage in formal government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations regarding the siting andoperationofImmigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities on or near tribal lands.