Congresswoman April McClain Delaney Backs Maryland Attorney General’s Lawsuit to Block ICE’s Detention Warehouse in Washington County

Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney released the following statement after Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration’s construction of an unlawful U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland:

“I wholeheartedly back Attorney General Brown’s lawsuit. In its haste to build a deplorable facility in secret, the Department of Homeland Security unsurprisingly failed to consult the state or conduct a comprehensive environmental review, which are required first steps when constructing any federal building.

“After visiting ICE’s detention facilities in Baltimore, I saw firsthand how horrifying the living conditions are for those held inside as well as inadequate access to legal counsel or communication with loved ones. This kind of warehouse has no place in Western Maryland, and I am proud to stand with the Governor, Attorney General, and my fellow Team Maryland lawmakers in Congress to stop it.”

The Congresswoman is staunchly opposed to this warehouse. Last month, she introduced the Keep ICE Out of Washington County, Maryland Act to prohibit the use of federal funds in the construction of the facility and to provide residents with a legal avenue to challenge it in court. She also joined with U.S. Senators for Maryland Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks in a letter to push back on the Washington County Board of Commissions who voted in unwavering support of DHS and ICE on February 10 in a meeting held without public comment. In addition, the Congresswoman joined with Senator Chris Van Hollen and hundreds of protesters in Hagerstown on January 20 to voice opposition to the warehouse plan.