The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is attempting to convert an 825,000-square-foot industrial warehouse in Washington County, Maryland into a massive ICE detention facility despite overwhelming environmental, infrastructure, and human rights concerns.

DHS is now accepting public comments as part of the environmental review process.

This public comment period exists because the State of Maryland took DHS to court. In February 2026, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown sued DHS after the agency attempted to move forward with the project without conducting the environmental review required by federal law. The lawsuit alleged that DHS unlawfully fast-tracked the project while failing to adequately evaluate impacts on local waterways, wastewater systems, traffic, emergency services, public health, air quality, and surrounding communities.

Maryland has already won significant victories in court. A federal judge largely halted the project and forced DHS to begin the environmental review process it had previously attempted to avoid. As a result, DHS must now create a public record and consider public input before moving forward.

Every public comment submitted becomes part of that official record. Those comments can help demonstrate widespread opposition to the project, identify environmental and infrastructure concerns DHS must address, and strengthen the record that will be scrutinized throughout the ongoing legal battle.

This proposed detention facility is not just a Washington County issue. DHS documents indicate the facility could ultimately house up to 1,500 people inside an 825,000-square-foot warehouse. The project raises serious concerns about wastewater capacity, stormwater runoff, flooding risks, emergency services, traffic, air quality, and impacts to waterways that flow far beyond Washington County. Environmental impacts associated with the facility could affect communities throughout the Potomac watershed, including parts of Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

This is one of the most important opportunities the public has had to influence the future of this project. The comments submitted now will become part of the administrative record DHS must consider before deciding whether to proceed.

We have a chance to make it clear that this detention facility is not welcome in Washington County and should never be allowed to open.

Use the form to submit a public comment and urge DHS to abandon this project before it's too late.

Additional Resources:

• Maryland Attorney General's lawsuit against DHS:
https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Files-Lawsuit-to-Stop-Construction-of-Unlawful-ICE-Detention-Facility-in-Washington-County.aspx

• Read Hagerstown Rapid Response's investigation:
https://blog.hagerstownrapidresponse.com/p/10-reasons-were-opposing-the-proposed-ice-detention-center-in-washington-county-maryland-and-why-you-should-submit-public-comment