eb5exclusive

Shortly after a federal immigration enforcement facility was proposed for a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa, many residents came out in opposition to the move, ultimately leading authorities to abandon the plan.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had requested a zoning variance for an facility in Urbandale that would have included holding cells, according to the Des Moines Register.

However, a public hearing on the matter drew more than 100 protesters and city officials voted against the proposed ICE facility. The federal government has indicated that it would no longer pursue a facility in that location.

"They'll have to make a decision if they want to look for other space, and if so where," West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer told the news source. "That's their decision to make. They just had originally picked one of our buildings in Urbandale and they came to see us."

Regardless of where the federal government decides to construct its ICE building, foreign investors can earn U.S. green cards through the EB-5 visa program. Under the program, if a foreign national invests $1 million (or in some areas, $500,000) in a U.S. business and that investment leads to the creation or preservation of 10 jobs, the investor and his family become eligible for U.S. green cards.