Hagerstown, Maryland – Residents and political leaders voiced strong opposition Tuesday to potential plans by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to establish large-scale detention facilities in the city. The protest in the city square reflects growing concerns about the agency’s evolving approach to immigration enforcement.
Concerns Rise Over Proposed ICE Warehouses
The planned facilities, described as “mega detention centers,” have sparked fears of increased deportations and inhumane conditions.
- ICE is considering purchasing large warehouses across the U.S. to detain immigrants.
- Hagerstown, Maryland, and Stafford County, Virginia, are among the locations being evaluated.
- Maryland officials have requested answers from the Department of Homeland Security regarding the plans.
- Protesters expressed outrage, comparing the potential facilities to “concentration camps.”
The possibility of ICE utilizing large warehouses for immigration detention first surfaced in November, when the agency indicated it was exploring the acquisition of such properties to “increase efficiency” in deportation processes. In December, reports identified Hagerstown, in Washington County, as a potential site, alongside Stafford County, Virginia, which is being considered for a larger facility.
“Wake up. Pay attention to what’s happening before it’s too late,” one protester urged, encapsulating the sense of urgency among those gathered.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative April McClain Delaney joined the demonstration, emphasizing the lack of transparency surrounding the ICE proposals. “We’re asking ICE for answers,” Van Hollen stated. “In fact, just today, Senator Alsobrooks and Congresswoman Delaney and I sent the Secretary of Homeland Security a letter asking her about what their plans are [and] what are they planning here?”
The emotional toll of the potential facilities was palpable among those present. One man, upon learning of the plans, described feeling physically ill, stating he “threw up” and felt nauseous. Another woman expressed deep distress, saying she could not “even stand the thought of having it in our county.”
“It is cruel. It is almost like concentration camps,” she said, drawing a stark comparison. “It’s like jail. I mean, they’re going to be in a warehouse. Can you imagine it? I can’t.”
ICE acknowledged the ongoing efforts to expand detention capacity. A spokesperson stated, “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.” The spokesperson further asserted that ICE focuses on detaining individuals deemed “the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, criminals, gang members and more,” adding, “We have no new detention centers to announce at this time.”
