Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a federal complaint Monday against the Department of Homeland Security over plans to convert a warehouse in Williamsport into an immigration detention facility.
The controversy began after the federal government purchased a large warehouse in Williamsport for $102 million with plans to transform it into an immigrant processing facility housing 1,500 people. The facility would be one of 16 new facilities in the country.
Brown’s complaint accused the federal government of ignoring environmental concerns and public input on the project. “In their zeal to purchase and convert the Williamsport Warehouse into an immigration detention facility, Defendants have run roughshod over federal law and trampled on the State’s interests,” Brown wrote. The lawsuit seeks to stop work and force additional review.
“We’re asking the court to halt construction of this facility. We’re asking the court to require a proper environmental review with full public input. And we’re asking the court to declare what the administration did here was unlawful,” Brown said.
Protesters packed a Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting earlier this month as the board approved a resolution supporting the mission of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Officials warned attendees to keep signs down and threatened to suspend the session if disruptions continued. The meeting ended amid loud outcry after the vote.
County leaders insisted their ability to intervene is limited. “Generally, the Federal Government does not need to respect local zoning regulations that conflict with federal mandates. Washington County is not able to legally restrict the federal government’s ability to proceed,” the county said in a statement.
