Protesters Rally Against Planned Maryland Immigration Detention Facility

DHS purchase of warehouse for detention center faces fierce community opposition

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:20pm

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A photorealistic painting of a large, nondescript warehouse building bathed in warm, golden sunlight, with deep shadows creating a sense of tension and unease around the structure.As the federal government's plan to convert a Maryland warehouse into an immigration detention facility faces fierce local resistance, the looming structure stands as a symbol of the political and moral divisions surrounding the administration's deportation agenda.Hagerstown Today

Protesters have rallied against a planned immigration detention facility in Washington County, Maryland, where the Department of Homeland Security purchased an 825,000-square-foot warehouse to convert into a detention center. Residents and activists have voiced strong opposition to the plan, which is now paused amid a court battle.

Why it matters

The pushback in Washington County is part of a broader pattern of communities across the U.S. balking at DHS' plans to turn warehouses into immigrant detention facilities. The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement policies and the government's approach to housing detainees.

The details

The Washington County warehouse was intended to be one of the first facilities opened under a DHS plan to transform warehouses across the U.S. into detention centers for tens of thousands of immigrants. However, the plan has faced fierce opposition from residents and activists who argue the facility is unsuitable for housing people. County commissioners initially voiced support for ICE, but that was met with protests. A judge has temporarily halted renovation work on the building after Maryland's attorney general sued.

  • In February 2026, Washington County commissioners approved a proclamation declaring 'unwavering support' for DHS and ICE.
  • In April 2026, a judge temporarily halted work on renovating the warehouse after Maryland's attorney general sued.

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 warehouses-to-detention facilities plan.

Kristi Noem

Mullin's predecessor as Homeland Security Secretary, under whom the warehouses-to-detention facilities plan was hatched.

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 a 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 on Maryland's lawsuit against the planned detention facility. The Department of Homeland Security is also reviewing all contracts signed under the previous administration regarding the warehouses-to-detention facilities plan.

The takeaway

The fierce community opposition to the planned immigration detention facility in Washington County reflects the broader national debate over immigration enforcement policies and the government's approach to housing detainees. The controversy highlights the importance of community input and transparency in such decisions.