ICE detention plan revived for Roxbury warehouse after state lawsuit

A controversial proposal to convert an empty warehouse in Roxbury into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center has been revived by the federal government. The Department of Homeland Security filed a notice with the U.S. District Court on July 10 stating that agency officials intend to move forward with reconsidering the retrofitting project.

This development comes just days after DHS appeared to abandon the plan in late June, creating confusion for residents and local leaders who had celebrated what they thought was an end to the proposal. The facility is located on Route 46 in Roxbury Township within Morris County, which falls under New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

Timeline of conflicting federal filings

The sequence of events began with a joint status report filed by DHS and local parties on June 29. In that filing, the department stated it no longer intended to convert the warehouse into a detention facility for immigration detainees.

Governor Mikie Sherrill responded immediately to the June 29 news, calling the ruling a major victory for both the state of New Jersey and the township of Roxbury on social media. She emphasized that converting a package distribution center into a mass detention site would be inhumane and cause devastating local impacts.

However, DHS officials informed counsel on July 8 that upon reconsideration, they intended to move forward with plans for the facility again. A formal notice was filed with the court two days later on July 10, confirming that agency deliberations remain ongoing as of that date.

The new filing did not disclose a specific reason for this sudden change of heart or explain why the department reversed its position from less than two weeks prior. Counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants are scheduled to confer and submit a joint status report on July 17 regarding these developments.

Capacity and local impact concerns

If the project moves forward, the proposed facility would hold up to 1,500 detainees according to reports from New Jersey officials. This capacity represents a significant concentration of people in a single location within Morris County that was previously used for commercial purposes.

Governor Sherrill argued on June 29 that establishing such a center at the Roxbury warehouse would not make New Jersey any safer while creating environmental and community burdens. She described the plan as unlawful regardless of which political party is in power, framing it as a bipartisan issue rather than a partisan one.

Local residents face uncertainty about how an active detention center might affect traffic on Route 46 or strain local emergency services during operations. The warehouse was originally purchased by ICE specifically for use as a processing facility before the legal challenges arose.

State officials maintain lawsuit blocks project

Despite the federal reversal, Governor Sherrill's office insists that the facility is not moving forward because of an ongoing bipartisan lawsuit filed by her administration and the state Attorney General. Spokesman Steve Sigmund stated clearly on Sunday that contradictory court filings from the Trump administration will not change this legal reality.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin responded to Sherrill's initial victory declaration with a firm statement that DHS would never back down from keeping the site for detention purposes. His comments suggest a continued federal commitment to utilizing the Roxbury location despite state opposition.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office issued its own statement regarding the reversal, though the full text was cut off in available reports before detailing their specific legal arguments against the new filing. State officials continue to argue that the plan remains unlawful under current statutes and court orders.

Next steps for residents and courts

The immediate next step involves a joint status report due from counsel on July 17, which will likely outline how both sides intend to proceed with their legal arguments in federal court. This filing may clarify whether the project is temporarily paused or if construction plans are actively being revisited.

Residents of Roxbury and surrounding Morris County towns must wait for further updates as the courts determine the validity of DHS's renewed interest in the warehouse. The situation remains fluid, with no confirmed timeline for when a final decision on the facility's fate will be made by the judiciary.