Long Valley Democrats Urge Town Officials to Oppose Proposed ICE Detention Center

Neighboring towns have already passed resolutions against the facility, and local Democrats want the same in Long Valley.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Washington Township Democratic Committee is calling on local officials in Long Valley, New Jersey to express opposition to a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in nearby Roxbury. The committee is urging the town to pass a resolution condemning the plan, which could house up to 1,500 detainees, citing concerns about human rights abuses and the broader impact on the community.

Why it matters

The proposed ICE facility has sparked controversy in the region, with neighboring towns like Roxbury and Parsippany-Troy Hills already passing resolutions against it. The Long Valley Democrats argue that silence on the issue from local officials would amount to 'complicity' in potential human rights violations, and they want the town to take a strong public stance against the detention center.

The details

The Washington Township Democratic Committee presented a letter to town officials on Wednesday urging them to pass a resolution opposing the ICE facility. The letter cites concerns about the potential for abuse, the impact on the local community, and the broader history of mass deportation rhetoric and policies. The committee is also calling on officials to renounce any past support for 'Mass Deportations Now' slogans.

  • The Washington Township Democratic Committee presented the letter to town officials on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The Roxbury Township and Parsippany-Troy Hills councils have already passed resolutions opposing the proposed ICE facility.

The players

Washington Township Democratic Committee

A local political organization in Long Valley, New Jersey that is urging town officials to publicly oppose the proposed ICE detention center.

Roxbury Township

A neighboring town that has passed a resolution condemning the plan to turn a warehouse into an ICE detention facility.

Parsippany-Troy Hills

Another nearby town that has passed a resolution opposing the proposed ICE detention center.

Patrick Conner

The chair of the Washington Township Democratic Committee.

Senator Roger Wicker

A Republican U.S. Senator who has opposed converting a warehouse in Byhalia, Mississippi into an ICE detention facility.

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What they’re saying

“Adopt this resolution, or something equally clear, to make it unmistakable that our community will not be associated with abuses committed in the name of 'protecting our homeland' — language that echoes some of the darkest chapters of human history. Use your platform to keep the extreme practices of the current Department of Homeland Security out of northern New Jersey.”

— Washington Township Democratic Committee (Patch.com)

“This is exactly what was promised. But you have both the chance—and the obligation—to say no. You can reject this abusive model of enforcement and protect the people you represent.”

— Washington Township Democratic Committee (Patch.com)

What’s next

The Washington Township committee has not yet issued a response to the Democratic Committee's letter as of Thursday evening.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement policies and the role of local governments in either enabling or opposing the expansion of ICE detention facilities. The Long Valley Democrats are pushing town officials to take a firm public stance against the proposed center, arguing that silence would be complicity in potential human rights abuses.