Maryland County Resists Planned ICE Detention Facility

Protesters rally against the federal government's purchase of a warehouse to convert into an immigration detention center in Washington County, Maryland.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:02pm

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A cinematic painting depicting a large, nondescript warehouse building in muted tones, with a crowd of protesters gathered outside, conveying a sense of political tension and civic unrest.Protesters rally against the federal government's plans to convert a warehouse into an immigration detention facility, exposing the community's deep divisions over the issue.Hagerstown Today

Horns blared and protesters screamed 'Stop ICE!' outside a county commission meeting in Hagerstown, Maryland, where officials were discussing plans to convert a large warehouse into an immigration detention facility. The federal government has faced fierce opposition in communities where it has purchased warehouses to transform into detention centers, and Washington County is no exception, with residents voicing moral objections and feeling disenfranchised by the lack of community input.

Why it matters

The planned detention facility in Washington County is part of a broader federal effort to establish new immigration detention centers across the country, which has sparked intense backlash and legal challenges in many communities. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement policies and the role of local governments in hosting such facilities.

The details

The Department of Homeland Security purchased an 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Washington County as part of a plan to transform warehouses across the U.S. into detention facilities for tens of thousands of immigrants. County commissioners initially voiced 'unwavering support' for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, but this proclamation was met with protests. ICE has since signed a $113 million contract to renovate the building, but a judge has temporarily halted the work after Maryland's attorney general sued. The federal government is now reconsidering the plans for the facility.

  • In February 2026, the Washington County commissioners approved a proclamation declaring their 'unwavering support' for DHS and ICE.
  • On April 15, 2026, a hearing is scheduled regarding the lawsuit filed by Maryland's attorney general to halt the renovation work on the warehouse.

The players

Patrick Dattilio

The founder of an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement group called Hagerstown Rapid Response.

Markwayne Mullin

The current Department of Homeland Security Secretary who is reviewing the plan to transform warehouses into detention facilities.

Kristi Noem

The previous Department of Homeland Security Secretary who initiated the plan to purchase warehouses for detention facilities.

Michelle Gordon

The Washington County administrator who said the commissioners were declining all interview requests.

Carroll Sager

A Washington County resident who held a sign saying 'Disenfranchised in Washington County' during the protest.

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What they’re saying

“This is a facility built for packages, not people.”

— Patrick Dattilio, Founder, Hagerstown Rapid Response

“We have had no voice in this.”

— Carroll Sager

What’s next

A hearing is scheduled for April 15, 2026 regarding the lawsuit filed by Maryland's attorney general to halt the renovation work on the warehouse. The federal government has also said it is reconsidering the plans and scope of the warehouse.

The takeaway

The debate over the planned ICE detention facility in Washington County highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement policies and the role of local communities in hosting such facilities. The fierce opposition from residents and legal challenges have put the federal government's plans on pause, raising questions about the future of the project.