Community Pushback Against ICE Detention Plans in Maryland

Thu Apr 09 2026 12:18:39 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Residents in Washington County, Maryland, express outrage over plans to convert a local warehouse into an ICE detention center, raising concerns over lack of community input and moral objections.

In Washington County, Maryland, community members are vehemently protesting the recent purchase by the Department of Homeland Security of a warehouse intended to be converted into an ICE detention facility. Many residents believe their voices have been ignored regarding the decision, which has sparked protests and a declaration of support from local officials, met with public disapproval. Amid ongoing legal battles, the future of the facility remains uncertain, as federal officials reassess their plans and community concerns continue to mount.

Protests Erupt Over ICE Detention Plans in Western Maryland

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Amid horns blaring and protesters shouting “Stop ICE!” outside a meeting, residents of Washington County found themselves embroiled in fierce debates over a federal plan to convert a local warehouse into an ICE detention facility.

The controversy ignited after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acquired the massive 825,000-square-foot building, aiming to use it as a processing center for immigrants apprehended in the region.

Patrick Dattilio, the founder of Hagerstown Rapid Response, an anti-ICE group, questioned the appropriateness of altering a facility originally designed for commodities. “This is a facility built for packages, not people,” he remarked outside the county commission meeting.

Despite the local government acknowledging the facility’s purchase, community uproar intensified when the county commissioners proclaimed their “unwavering support” for ICE during an official meeting. The proclamation sparked an outcry from attendees, prompting the meeting’s disruption.

The commissioners’ stance came amid a contentious backdrop of legal challenges faced by other similar initiatives across the country, with the future of the Washington County project hanging in the balance. Activists and those morally opposed to the detention provisions are voicing their discontent echoing sentiments heard nationwide.

Residents like Carroll Sager expressed their frustrations, holding signs bearing messages such as “Disenfranchised in Washington County.” The protests included a mix of local residents and activists, all emphasizing the lack of community consultation regarding the government’s decision.

Maryland’s attorney general has initiated a lawsuit to halt the facility’s construction, further complicating plans already met with resistance in other states. The attorneys involved argue that the government's decisions lack transparency and input from affected communities.

As the process unfolds, residents remain in limbo, anxiously awaiting the outcomes of both legal hearings and community responses from DHS leadership, as they fear the implications of the proposed immigrant detention site nearby.