ICE detention plan for Roxbury warehouse revived after June court filing
Federal officials reversed a decision to drop plans for an immigration facility in Morris County just days before state leaders celebrated a legal victory.
A controversial proposal to convert a large warehouse in Roxbury into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center has reappeared after federal officials changed their position. The Department of Homeland Security filed a notice with the New Jersey District Court on July 10 stating it is reconsidering plans for the facility.
This development comes just days after state leaders declared a major victory when DHS indicated in late June that it would no longer pursue converting the building into a detention site. The sudden reversal has reignited legal tensions between the Trump administration and New Jersey officials who have sued to block the project.
Timeline of conflicting federal filings
The sequence of events began with a joint status report filed by DHS on June 29, which stated that the department no longer intended to convert the warehouse into a detention facility. Governor Mikie Sherrill responded immediately to this news on social media, calling it a major victory for the state and the township of Roxbury.
On July 8, however, DHS officials informed legal counsel that upon reconsideration, the agency intends to move forward with plans to retrofit the warehouse in Roxbury Township. A notice filed with the court two days later on July 10 confirmed this shift, though it did not disclose a specific reason for the change of heart.
The facility is located on Route 46 and was originally purchased by ICE as an immigration processing center before legal challenges halted its initial development. If the project moves forward under current plans, the proposed detention center would be capable of holding up to 1,500 detainees according to available details.
State officials maintain lawsuit blocks progress
Governor Sherrill and her office refused to accept the federal reversal at face value, emphasizing that their bipartisan lawsuit remains in place. Spokesman Steve Sigmund stated clearly that the facility is not moving forward now because of the governor's and attorney general's legal action.
Sigmund added that this holds true no matter how many contradictory court filings come from the Trump administration regarding the site. The state Attorney General's Office also issued a statement on Sunday to address DHS's reversal, though the full text was not provided in available reports.
Governor Sherrill had previously argued on June 29 that converting a warehouse for packages into a detention center would be unlawful and have devastating local impacts. She noted during her initial victory announcement that such a facility would hold thousands of people and create environmental issues without making New Jersey safer.
Federal leadership vows to keep the site
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin responded directly to Governor Sherrill's comments about halting the project with a firm declaration on social media. He posted that DHS will never back down and confirmed they intend to be keeping this specific site for use as a detention center.
Mullin's statement suggests the federal government views the June 29 filing as temporary or procedural rather than a final abandonment of the Roxbury location. The agency continues to deliberate on the matter, with counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants scheduled to submit a joint status report by July 17.
The legal team representing New Jersey has been conferring with DHS counsel since receiving notice of the reconsideration in early July. No further details were disclosed regarding why the agency decided to revisit the retrofitting plans after previously stating it would drop them.
What residents can expect next
Residents in Morris County and across the 11th Congressional District are facing renewed uncertainty as the legal battle over the warehouse continues into mid-July. The court has set a deadline for July 17 when attorneys from both sides will file a joint status report to update the judge on proceedings.
The outcome of these ongoing deliberations could determine whether the empty building on Route 46 remains vacant or begins construction as an immigration facility with capacity for over 1,000 people. Local officials have stressed that their lawsuit is designed specifically to prevent any conversion of the property regardless of federal statements.
Questions residents are asking
Did ICE officially cancel plans for the Roxbury detention center?
No, while DHS filed a report on June 29 saying it would not convert the warehouse, officials informed counsel on July 8 that they intend to move forward with reconsideration. A court notice filed on July 10 confirmed agency deliberations remain ongoing regarding the retrofitting of the facility.
How many people could this detention center hold?
The proposed facility is planned to hold up to 1,500 detainees if the project moves forward. This capacity was part of the original plan for converting the warehouse on Route 46 in Roxbury into an immigration processing and detention site.
What did Governor Sherrill say about this reversal?
Governor Sherrill's office stated that the facility is not moving forward because of their bipartisan lawsuit, regardless of contradictory filings from the Trump administration. Her spokesman emphasized that converting a package warehouse into a detention center would be unlawful and inhumane.