Rep. April McClain Delaney, Gov. Wes Moore Hear Community Concerns Over Planned ICE Detention Warehouse in Washington County

HAGERSTOWN, MD — Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and Governor Wes Moore convened a roundtable with twenty faith leaders, nonprofit organizations, and local business representatives in Washington County to discuss concerns about the Trump Administration’s purchase and planned development of a 1,500-bed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention warehouse near Williamsport.

The facility—advanced by the Trump Administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has sparked significant alarm among constituents in Maryland’s Sixth District. Participants in today’s roundtable expressed a wide range of concerns, including the potential for human rights abuses, limited access to legal counsel and due process for detainees, threats to public safety, strain on local infrastructure and economy, and environmental risks. Above all, constituents in attendance noted the Administration’s lack of transparency and meaningful opportunity for the public to comment.

“Washington County is a community where neighbors look out for one another. Today, however, we find ourselves in the shadow of an ICE warehouse that does not reflect our values and lawlessly undermines our constitutional and civil rights,” said Rep. McClain Delaney. “We are deeply frustrated that the Trump Administration has failed to meet even the most basic standard of communication with local residents with no accountability for the impacts on local communities, and we cannot allow the voices of the people we represent go unheard. I’m grateful to the Governor for joining me at this roundtable to ensure that community leaders and businesses can share their perspectives—input that will be critical in shaping our fight ahead to block this warehouse and leave no Marylander behind.”

“This detention warehouse is not making our community safer; it is, in fact, a significant loss of economic opportunity for Western Maryland and for our entire state,” said Gov. Moore. “This property was intended for commercial distribution, supporting thousands of jobs and millions in capital investment. Instead, we are seeing hundreds of millions poured into a project that will burden local infrastructure while the Trump Administration continues to deny our people disaster assistance after historic floods. We take great pride in our close collaboration between local, State, and federal entities, but DHS has demonstrated a lack of transparency inside this process that is simply unacceptable.”

The Congresswoman and Governor highlighted legal and legislative actions that they are taking at the federal and state level to uphold accountability and transparency. The Congresswoman recently introduced legislation to cut federal funding for the warehouse and to provide the community with a legal pathway to challenge its development in court, now complemented by a bill introduced in the Maryland General Assembly by Delegate Matt Schindler. She also led the charge on a delegation letter opposing the Department’s 7-day public comment period, and continues to not vote for DHS appropriations until the Administration meaningful reforms to ICE and Customs and Border Protection are made.

Meanwhile, the State of Maryland has secured a temporary restraining order in its lawsuit against the federal government to halt construction, based on the irreversible risks the project poses to the community and environment.

During the meeting, the Congresswoman discussed her formal demand for an immediate Congressional oversight tour of the warehouse with Team Maryland lawmakers. She will hold additional meetings in the weeks and months ahead to hear from more community leaders. She also invites members of the public to take her latest survey about the facility to make their voices heard.

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For updates, follow Rep. McClain Delaney at @RepAprilDelaney.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney was elected in 2024 to serve Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. In Congress, McClain Delaney is focused on improving US competitiveness and innovation, protecting our natural environment and championing policies that represent the values and priorities of Maryland’s 6th District.