Eppley Immigration Center

[almighty_tuna]

Maybe I missed in the OWH, but this article was in the Lincoln paper today. Sounds like a sizeable center. Its a good step for Eppley to expand its services but would this pave the way to international flights further (much further) down the road? Certainly not direct to London, etc, but regional Canadian or Mexican-bound flights? It seems to have a greater purpose than a holding area since it has a waiting capacity of 700. And the timing is nearly right- the big 5 million mark is coming up and international would be a great way to expand.

OMAHA - The Omaha City Council has approved a U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposal to build a new immigration services center south of Eppley Airfield.

Activities of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service were incorporated into the Homeland Security Department last year. Plans for the new Omaha center were first announced in February. Council approval was given Tuesday.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement will use part of the new building for its work combating illegal immigration, including a detention area. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services also will use the facility, including a waiting room to accommodate up to 700 visitors a day.

Construction is expected to begin in August. The center will employ an estimated 195 people.

[Coyote]

This was in Wednesday's OWH:

Immigration center near airport OK'd

A new U.S. Department of Homeland Security building south of Eppley Airfield won final approval Tuesday from the Omaha City Council.

When the plans for the new building were announced in February, it was described as the city's new center for immigration services.

The activities of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service were incorporated into the Homeland Security Department last year and split among new bureaus.

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which combats illegal immigration, will use 42,000 square feet of the building at East 15th and H Streets. The enforcement bureau also will operate a 2,000-square-foot detention area.

The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services will use 32,000 square feet of the building and have a waiting room area to accommodate up to 700 visitors a day.

An estimated 195 people will work at the new facility.

Construction is expected to begin in August.

[almighty_tuna]

Well there ya go, guess I missed it on Wed.

[DTO Luv]

I was wondering what that was. My mom lives right across the street from there and was wondering what that could be. It looks like it will be a big building from the size of the tilled land.