Jim Pattison Blocks U.S. Warehouse Sale – ICE Facility Plans
- Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not sell an industrial building in Ashland, Va., that was set to be turned into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)...
- billionaire and philanthropist Jim Pattison, sent out a single-sentence statement Friday, saying, "The transaction to sell our industrial building in Ashland, Virginia will not be proceeding."
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Jan.
Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not sell an industrial building in Ashland, Va., that was set to be turned into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility.
The development company, owned by B.C. billionaire and philanthropist Jim Pattison, sent out a single-sentence statement Friday, saying, “The transaction to sell our industrial building in Ashland, Virginia will not be proceeding.”
The company said it will not provide any further comment.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Jan. 21,in a letter sent to Hanover County officials in Virginia,that it planned to purchase the 17.6-hectare (43.49-acre) warehouse property for ICE operations, which coudl have included “holding and processing spaces.”
Pattison has owned the site since 2022.
CBC News has reached out to DHS for comment.
A planned protest has been reframed as a “festivity” by its founder, Jim Flom, who emphasized the importance of continued non-violent presentation in defence of democratic principles against what he terms “fascism.” Verification of the group’s aims and the context of the protest requires further examination due to the untrusted source.
Jim Flom and the Protest Group
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Jim Flom is identified as the founder of the group organizing the event, which has transitioned from a protest to a “celebration.” Self-reliant verification of Flom’s identity and the group’s official name is needed. As of January 30, 2026, no readily available authoritative sources confirm the existence of this group or Flom’s leadership role.
Further research is required to determine the group’s specific objectives and activities.
The Shift from Protest to “Celebration”
The event has been recharacterized as a “celebration” by jim Flom, indicating a change in tactics or focus. This shift occurred following an unspecified event or development. The reason for this change is not detailed in the provided source.
The timing of this change, as of January 30, 2026, is meaningful, perhaps responding to recent political or social developments. However, without corroborating sources, the context remains unclear.
Concerns Regarding “Fascism” and Democracy
Jim Flom invoked the term ”fascism” and called for continued defense of democracy, suggesting concerns about authoritarian tendencies. The specific targets of these concerns are not identified in the source.
The statement advocates for “non-violent, law-abiding protest” as a means of resisting perceived threats to democracy. This aligns with established strategies for civic engagement and political activism. The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division outlines legal frameworks for peaceful protest and civil disobedience.
As of January 30, 2026, there have been no major, widely reported events that directly prompted this statement, but ongoing political polarization and debates about democratic norms continue in both Canada and the United States. Democratic Institutions in Canada provides information on the Canadian electoral system and political processes.
- Canada: Government of Canada
- United States: USA.gov
- Democracy: Library of Congress – Democracy