Howard County Sued Over Law Blocking Planned ICE Detention Facility

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Howard County is facing a lawsuit from the owner of a building in Elkridge that began retrofitting a facility that would eventually become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. The owner, Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC, argues the county is unlawfully preventing the federal government from enforcing immigration laws by revoking permits for the project.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between local governments and federal immigration enforcement efforts, with some communities seeking to limit or block ICE detention facilities due to concerns over civil liberties and human rights. The lawsuit could set a precedent on the extent to which local jurisdictions can restrict federal immigration operations.

The details

Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC said it was almost finished retrofitting the Elkridge building when Howard County pulled the plug on its permits. The company is now suing County Executive Calvin Ball and the County Council over their emergency legislation aimed at stopping the development of the detention facility. Court documents indicate the county had initially approved 90% of the work before revoking the permits.

• The planned ICE detention facility in Elkridge dates back to the Biden administration.
• In March 2026, Howard County passed emergency legislation to block the detention facility project.

What’s next

The judge in the case will rule on whether Howard County's actions were lawful in blocking the planned ICE detention facility.