Maryland sues to block construction of $102 million ICE Detention Center near Williamsport
On February 23, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed a lawsuit aimed at halting what he calls an unlawful and secretive plan by the Trump administration to construct a massive immigration detention center in rural Washington County.
At the center of the legal battle is a 54-acre warehouse property just outside Williamsport that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) quietly purchased on January 16 for $102.4 million. Federal officials intend to convert the 825,620-square-foot commercial warehouse into a detention facility capable of housing up to 1,500 people at a time — nearly matching the population of Williamsport itself, a town of just over 2,000 residents.
The Williamsport Warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Brown’s lawsuit accuses the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE of sidestepping federal environmental law and shutting out state leaders and the public from the decision-making process.
“The Trump Administration will stop at nothing to pursue its extreme immigration agenda — including breaking the law,” Brown said in a statement announcing the legal action. “DHS purchased this facility while keeping the State and the public in the dark, spending more than $100 million in federal taxpayer dollars without performing the required environmental review and without giving Maryland or Marylanders any voice in the process.”
Governor Wes Moore echoed those concerns, saying the federal government must be held accountable. “No administration is above the law. Our people must be heard when the federal government makes decisions that affect their health, their safety, and their communities,” Moore said. “DHS must be held to the same legal standard as every other federal agency.”
From Warehouse to Detention Center: The property, constructed between 2021 and 2023, was designed for commercial use. It contains expansive warehouse space, minimal office facilities, and just four toilets and two water fountains. According to DHS plans cited in the lawsuit, the facility would be transformed into a high-capacity immigration detention center.
The state argues that converting an industrial warehouse — originally built for storage and distribution — into a detention complex raises serious concerns about infrastructure, sanitation, medical access, and humane living conditions.
ICE facilities nationwide have faced documented scrutiny over detainee treatment, access to medical care, and overall conditions. Maryland officials warn that building a detention center inside a repurposed warehouse could amplify those concerns.
Alleged Violations of Federal Law: The lawsuit alleges that DHS and ICE violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to conduct environmental reviews before undertaking major projects that significantly affect the environment. Such reviews typically include assessments of environmental impacts, consultations with state agencies, consideration of alternatives, and opportunities for public comment.
According to the complaint, none of those steps were taken before the purchase and planned conversion.
See the complaint filed by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown
The filing further claims violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, asserting that federal officials provided no public explanation for their decision, failed to consider reasonable alternatives, and abandoned prior agency practices of conducting environmental reviews for similar detention projects.
State officials also warn of potential environmental and community impacts, including strain on local infrastructure, increased traffic, risks to air and water quality, effects on the Potomac River watershed, and potential harm to protected species.
Part of Broader Expansion: Maryland’s complaint frames the Williamsport purchase as part of a broader national effort to expand immigration detention capacity by acquiring large warehouses and converting them into facilities capable of holding thousands of people. Attorney General Brown said the lawsuit is intended not only to block the Washington County project but also to defend Maryland’s environmental protections and ensure communities are not excluded from decisions that could dramatically reshape their neighborhoods.
“We will not allow this Administration to treat laws like suggestions and threaten our people or their communities,” Brown said.
The case now moves to federal court, where Maryland is seeking to stop construction plans until the required environmental reviews and public processes are completed — or the project is halted altogether.
A video statement posted by Attorney General Brown regarding the lawsuit is available below.
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(Source: Office of the Maryland Attorney General)
(Cover photo of 16220 Wright Road, Image credit: X)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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