B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison’s company is backing off the sale of a Virginia property after reports about its planned use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Jim Pattison Developments said in a single-line statement Friday that the transaction to sell the industrial building in Ashland, Va., will not proceed.
Hanover County said it received notice Jan. 22 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planned to purchase the property to convert it into an ICE processing facility.
ICE and U.S. Border Patrol agents have faced criticism over shooting deaths, injuries and apprehensions amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Records show the property’s estimated value this year is close to $50.5 million US — or roughly $69 million Cdn.
The Jim Pattison Group had previously said it accepted an offer to sell the building to a U.S. government contractor but was not aware at the time of the ultimate owner and intended use of the property. The company said the sale was still subject to approvals and closing conditions.
Reports of the prominent Canadian businessman’s planned sale sparked outrage and calls to boycott Pattison-owned businesses. The 97-year-old’s holdings include grocery stores such as Save-On-Foods, auto dealerships and media outlets.
The company’s statement came the same day protests were planned in Vancouver against Canadian corporate ties to ICE.
The protests also target Vancouver-based social media management company Hootsuite for its contract with the Department of Homeland Security.
Hootsuite CEO Irina Novoselsky said in a statement Wednesday that its technology is used by ICE’s public affairs office.
“Our use-case with ICE does not include tracking or surveillance of individuals using our tools,” she said.
“We work with a wide range of organizations because listening to real conversations leads to insights that drive better decisions and accountability, without endorsing specific actions or policies,” said Novoselsky.
B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan is among those calling for boycotts and was set to speak at protests in Vancouver.
“This didn’t happen by accident,” said Lowan of the halted Pattison deal. “Workers and communities can win against the billionaire class when we stand together. This deal was stopped because people organized, applied pressure, and refused to be silent.”
She said the protest at Hootsuite headquarters would still go ahead.
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