Overview
- A Jan. 8 federal advisory outlines a proposal to purchase, occupy, and rehabilitate a warehouse at 29 Elizabeth Drive in Chester, including a small guard building, because part of the site sits in a flood plain.
- ICE has not provided specifics to local leaders or media, and Chester officials say no applications have been submitted to convert the former auto parts warehouse.
- Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus says he learned of the plan from the required environmental notice and warns the facility could strain services and draw sustained protests.
- Residents have mobilized with peaceful demonstrations and a packed village board meeting as they seek clarity on whether the warehouse will become a detention or processing center.
- The Washington Post previously reported a broader, unconfirmed ICE plan for multiple warehouse sites that could hold up to 80,000 people, with smaller centers of about 1,500 detainees each.