Maryland Community Pushes Back as ICE Warehouse Detention Plan Hits Pause

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — What was supposed to be a routine county meeting quickly turned into a loud protest zone as residents rallied against the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to turn an 825,000-square-foot warehouse into an immigration detention center. Horns blared and chants of “Stop ICE!” filled the air outside the Washington County commission meeting, underscoring the deep local opposition to the project.

The federal government’s $1.074 billion purchase of 11 warehouses nationwide, including this one on Maryland’s western edge, is part of a controversial program initiated under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to expand detention capacity for thousands of immigrants. The Washington County facility was slated to open early, but the plan is now on hold amid a court battle and a review by new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

“This is a facility built for packages, not people,” said Patrick Dattilio, founder of the local anti-ICE group Hagerstown Rapid Response. His words capture the core outrage: a massive warehouse designed for shipping goods is being repurposed to detain human beings under harsh conditions.

Despite the community’s vocal protests and accusations of being kept in the dark, county commissioners oddly declared their “unwavering support” for ICE during a February meeting—an announcement met with boos and shouting so intense the meeting was cleared. The proclamation, sent to Noem’s office, also included a wishlist of infrastructure upgrades the county wants in exchange for its cooperation.

Meanwhile, ICE has inked a $113 million contract to renovate the warehouse for 500 to 1,500 detainees, but Maryland’s attorney general successfully sued to halt construction. A hearing is set for April 15, with the future of the facility uncertain.

The Washington County outrage is part of a broader pattern of resistance. Communities in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Utah have pushed back against DHS’s warehouse detention plans—citing lack of transparency, environmental concerns, and exorbitant purchase prices that sometimes far exceed local property values.

New DHS Secretary Mullin has paused further warehouse acquisitions and is reviewing existing contracts, signaling possible shifts in policy. His confirmation hearing revealed reluctance to commit to continuing Noem’s aggressive detention expansion, emphasizing a desire to “be good partners” with local communities.

For residents like Nica Sutch, who has lived in western Maryland for nearly 30 years, the warehouse project threatens the character and values of their home. The community’s resistance is not just about a building—it’s about opposing the federal government’s secretive, punitive immigration policies that tear families apart and undermine human dignity.

As the court battle unfolds and DHS reviews its plans, Washington County remains on edge, watching closely to see if their voices will be heard or if the government will press forward with turning a warehouse into a prison for immigrants.