Protesters Rally Against Planned Maryland Immigration Detention Facility

Federal government's purchase of warehouse for detention center faces fierce community opposition

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:26am

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A cinematic painting of a large, nondescript warehouse building in warm, golden sunlight, with a small group of protesters gathered in the foreground, conveying the tension and emotion of the local opposition to the federal government's detention facility plans.As the federal government's plans to convert warehouses into immigration detention centers face growing community resistance, a somber scene of protesters gathering outside a targeted facility reflects the human stakes of the ongoing debate.Hagerstown Today

Protesters gathered outside a county commission meeting in Hagerstown, Maryland to voice their opposition to the federal government's plan to transform a large warehouse into an immigration detention facility. The Department of Homeland Security recently purchased an 825,000-square-foot building in Washington County as part of a broader effort to convert warehouses across the U.S. into detention centers for thousands of immigrants.

Why it matters

The federal government's efforts to expand immigration detention capacity have faced significant backlash from local communities, who argue that converting warehouses into detention centers is inhumane and inappropriate. This protest in Hagerstown highlights the growing grassroots opposition to the administration's immigration policies.

The details

Protesters gathered outside the county commission meeting, blaring horns and chanting 'Stop ICE!' as officials discussed routine matters like the solid waste budget. Patrick Dattilio, the founder of an anti-ICE group called Hagerstown Rapid Response, criticized the plan, saying 'This is a facility built for packages, not people.'

  • The Department of Homeland Security recently purchased the 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Washington County.

The players

Patrick Dattilio

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

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What they’re saying

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

— Patrick Dattilio, Founder, Hagerstown Rapid Response

The takeaway

The protest in Hagerstown reflects the growing grassroots opposition to the federal government's efforts to expand immigration detention capacity across the country, with local communities arguing that converting warehouses into detention centers is inhumane and inappropriate.