DHS reverses course on Roxbury ICE detention center plan after June withdrawal
Federal officials revived plans for a 1,500-bed facility in Morris County days after stating they would sell the warehouse.
The federal government has reversed its position on converting a vacant warehouse in Roxbury into an immigration detention center. Just weeks after indicating it intended to abandon the project and sell the property, the Department of Homeland Security filed a notice with the New Jersey District Court stating it is reconsidering the plan.
This development marks a sharp turn for the controversial proposal located on Route 46 in Morris County. The facility was originally purchased by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for $129.3 million in February, sparking immediate opposition from local leaders across party lines.
Timeline of conflicting federal filings
On June 29, a joint status report filed with the court stated that DHS no longer intended to convert the warehouse into an immigration detention facility and planned to sell it instead. Governor Mikie Sherrill hailed this initial filing as a major victory for the state and the township on social media.
The situation changed abruptly when DHS officials informed counsel on July 8 that, upon reconsideration, the agency intends to move forward with plans to retrofit the building. A subsequent notice filed on July 10 confirmed these deliberations remain ongoing without disclosing a reason for the change of heart.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin reinforced this stance in a social media message following the joint report filing. He stated that DHS will never back down and affirmed the department's commitment to keeping the site for use as a detention center.
State officials maintain legal blockade
Despite the federal reversal, New Jersey state leaders insist their bipartisan lawsuit continues to block the project from moving forward immediately. Governor Sherrill's spokesperson Stephen Sigmund stated that contradictory court filings do not alter the fact that the facility is halted by current litigation.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport echoed this sentiment in a statement released Sunday, noting the unlawful nature of the proposed conversion without an environmental assessment. Her office pledged to continue whatever efforts are necessary in court to prevent the project from proceeding absent proper review.
The state's legal challenge was originally filed on April 7 seeking a court injunction to halt any construction at the site. Officials argue that converting a warehouse designed for packages into a detention center would be inhumane and cause devastating local impacts.
Local leaders reject new federal stance
Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo released a statement on July 11 confirming he had been informed of the reversal by township officials. He expressed that this latest development is deeply disappointing for residents who have shown remarkable patience throughout the process.
Potillo emphasized that nothing is final until the legal process runs its course, but local officials remain cautiously optimistic about their ability to stop the facility. The mayor noted they do not know what prompted DHS to reconsider its previous position regarding the sale of the warehouse.
The township's all-Republican municipal council has joined Democratic state leaders in opposing the plan since Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased the property. Mayor Potillo stated that this new filing does not change their position or alter the course of their legal challenge on behalf of the community.
Scale of proposed detention facility
The revived proposal calls for a massive expansion of federal immigration holding capacity in the district, with plans to house up to 1,500 detainees. This figure represents part of an aggressive expansion plan that was previously associated with former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
DHS has not provided specific details on how many existing detention spaces are available elsewhere or why this site is being reconsidered at this time. A DHS spokesman cited existing detention spaces in a statement to NJ.com but did not reference the department's current plans for Roxbury specifically.
Questions residents are asking
Why did federal officials change their mind about selling the warehouse?
The court notice filed on July 10 stated that DHS intends to reconsider retrofitting the facility, but it did not disclose a specific reason for this reversal. Local officials noted they do not know exactly what prompted the department to abandon its previous position of no longer pursuing conversion.
Can the detention center be built immediately despite the lawsuit?
State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stated that their bipartisan lawsuit means the facility is not moving forward now absent an environmental assessment. Governor Sherrill's office confirmed that legal actions continue to block the project regardless of contradictory federal filings.
How much did ICE pay for the Roxbury warehouse?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased the vacant Morris County warehouse on Route 46 for $129.3 million in February. This acquisition sparked immediate opposition from both Democratic state leaders and the all-Republican municipal council in Roxbury Township.