Overview
- Filed in federal court by Attorney General Anthony Brown, the case is the first state challenge to a warehouse-to-detention conversion and seeks to void the $102.4 million purchase and stop any conversion work.
- The government bought an 825,000-square-foot warehouse on 54 acres on Jan. 16 that DHS intends to retrofit for 1,500 beds, according to the lawsuit.
- Maryland alleges violations of NEPA and the Administrative Procedure Act for proceeding without environmental review or public input, citing risks to sewer capacity, traffic, and nearby ecological areas.
- DHS did not immediately comment on the suit, while ICE has said the facilities will meet regular detention standards.
- Washington County officials supported the project and said federal use is not subject to local zoning, and the filing situates the site within a broader national detention buildout with completion sought as soon as September.