WCI Press Release
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### FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ###
February 12, 2026 Contact: Eric Schwartz, Co-Chair Organization: Washington County Indivisible Email / Phone: [email protected] WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FORMALIZE SUPPORT FOR I.C.E. AS SECRET DETENTION PROJECT COMES TO LIGHT Community leaders call national attention to lack of transparency, expansion of I.C.E. detention network, and documented abuses inside I.C.E. facilities HAGERSTOWN, MD — On February 10, the Washington County Board of Commissioners formalized a resolution expressing support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) and ongoing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement while nearly 200 residents protested. The vote came as plans move forward to convert a local warehouse into an I.C.E. detention and processing facility — one of many new or expanded facilities currently being developed nationwide. Community members say the project advanced quietly, without public notice, debate, or meaningful opportunity for input. For weeks, county officials publicly denied any knowledge or involvement in the proposed detention center, even when pressed for answers after a Washington Post article revealed that Hagerstown was on a list of sites where commercial warehouses were to be converted to large-scale detention facilities. Only after the sale of the building for $102 mil. was finalized did commissioners acknowledge awareness of the project — despite now formally endorsing I.C.E. operations through an official county resolution. Indivisible Washington County and allied organizations say the resolution amounts to retroactive approval of a project that county leadership neither disclosed nor opposed, even as residents raised concerns about immigration enforcement practices and civil liberties. “Washington County residents are saying loud and clear that they do not want Trump’s lawless ICE operations in their community. But instead of listening, local officials have put their full-throated support behind this out-of-control agency. Residents rightly have real concerns over ICE’s plans for a massive warehouse prison in their backyard, the conditions that persons in detention will face in this facility, and the enormous new burdens it will place on local resources. The Commissioners have some explaining to do – their constituents have the right to know how they plan to safeguard human rights and protect public health and safety in their jurisdiction.” – Senator Van Hollen In stark contrast, the Mayor & Town Council of Williamsport — where the warehouse is located — embraced public comment about the facility during regular session the evening of Feb. 9. DOCUMENTED CONCERNS ABOUT I.C.E. DETENTION FACILITIES The proposed Washington County facility would become part of a national I.C.E. detention system that has been repeatedly criticized by civil rights organizations, journalists, and federal investigators for systemic abuses and neglect. Reports from groups including the ACLU, Amnesty International, and the Department of Homeland Security’s own oversight bodies have documented:
These findings are not isolated incidents but reflect longstanding, systemic problems within I.C.E.’s detention framework — problems that Washington County officials failed to acknowledge or address before endorsing ongoing cooperation. COMMUNITY IMPACT AND CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY Local advocates argue that Washington County residents were denied the opportunity to weigh in on a project that carries significant human, financial, and reputational consequences for the community. The resolution supporting I.C.E. makes no mention of safeguards, oversight mechanisms, or protections for individuals who may be detained at the facility. Indivisible Washington County is calling for immediate transparency regarding the county’s role in the project, public hearings on the detention facility, and an end to formal cooperation that expands a system widely criticized for human rights violations. About Indivisible Washington County Indivisible Washington County is a grassroots civic engagement organization committed to democratic accountability, civil rights, and transparent local governance. |
Don't stand back and stand by. This is the time to stand up and speak out.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Indivisible / Washington County, Maryland