Maryland Awarded $113M Contract to Renovate Proposed ICE Detention Facility

The 825,000-square-foot warehouse near Hagerstown is slated for conversion into an immigration detention center.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $113 million contract to renovate a proposed federal immigration detention and processing facility near Hagerstown, Maryland. The contract was given to KVG LLC, a firm from Gettysburg, Pa., with a projected end date for construction by early May. The deal brings the total federal spending on the project to at least $215 million.

Why it matters

The planned detention center has drawn significant backlash from state and local officials, as well as residents, who argue the facility will negatively impact the environment, traffic, and public health and safety. Maryland's attorney general has filed a lawsuit to halt construction, alleging the federal government failed to conduct an environmental review or hold a public comment period.

The details

The 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Williamsport was purchased by ICE on January 16 for $102.4 million. The facility is intended to be converted into a detention center capable of housing 1,500 people, nearly matching the entire population of the town of Williamsport. The lawsuit filed by the Maryland attorney general cites concerns over the detention center's impact on air quality, traffic, public health and safety, as well as inhumane holding conditions and limited access to medical care.

  • The $113 million renovation contract was awarded in March 2026.
  • ICE purchased the 54-acre facility near Hagerstown on January 16.

The players

KVG LLC

A firm from Gettysburg, Pa. that was awarded the $113 million contract to renovate the proposed ICE detention facility.

Anthony Brown

The Maryland Attorney General who filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to pause work on the detention facility.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that awarded the $113 million contract and plans to convert the industrial warehouse into an immigration detention center.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that purchased the 54-acre facility near Hagerstown for $102.4 million with the intent of converting it into a 1,500-person detention center.

Washington County Council

The local government body that approved a resolution supporting DHS and ICE's immigration enforcement efforts, drawing protests from the public.

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What they’re saying

“The idea that our tiny little town is now going to be the center, the epicenter of this is, I think, simply too much for most of the people here.”

— Patrick Dattilio, Organizer for Hagerstown Rapid Response (The Baltimore Banner)

What’s next

The judge in the lawsuit filed by Maryland's attorney general will decide whether to halt construction and operation of the proposed ICE detention facility.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement efforts and local communities, with concerns over the environmental, economic, and social impacts of large-scale detention centers. The outcome of the lawsuit could set a precedent for how such facilities are evaluated and approved in the future.