Where Would a Hagerstown ICE Detention Facility be Located? Here’s What We Know

Investigative reporting by the Washington Post has claimed a draft proposal of a federal initiative to reshape the U.S. immigration detention system may potentially position Hagerstown, Maryland, as a key site for a new processing facility holding up to 1,500 people. This proposed “hub-and-spoke” model aims to expand detention capacity nationwide, with Hagerstown being eyed as a logistical hub to support a larger facility planned for Stafford, Virginia. The city’s strategic location, characterized by extensive transportation networks, makes it an attractive option for federal planners looking to efficiently manage detainee transfers and deportation flights. Analyzing current available local properties found multiple candidate warehouses, but also several closed educational facilities which could make prime candidates.

The appeal of Hagerstown to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is likely rooted in its prime logistical advantages. Situated at the vital intersection of Interstate 81 and Interstate 70, the city serves as a critical corridor for East Coast freight movement. This positioning offers ICE a direct north-south route to the proposed 10,000-person detention mega-hub in Stafford, Virginia, via I-81, while I-70 provides crucial east-west connectivity. Such infrastructure would facilitate the rapid movement of individuals between regional detention centers and larger staging facilities, a practice that saw a substantial increase in the preceding year. Furthermore, the proximity of Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR) could enable ICE to conduct “removal flights” more discreetly, bypassing the oversight of larger, more regulated airports in the Baltimore or Washington D.C. metropolitan areas. This strategic use of the airport aligns with the recent surge in ICE air operations.

The agency’s strategy for this expansion reportedly focuses on repurposing existing industrial warehouses rather than constructing new facilities. These sites, ideally exceeding 100,000 square feet, would be retrofitted with modular housing, medical facilities, and processing areas designed for high-volume throughput. In Hagerstown, specific properties such as warehouse and office properties along Western Maryland Parkway would likely meet size requirements with additional appeal for their adjacency to the Washington County Detention Center. Additionally, newer warehouses along the Hopewell Road Corridor, some exceeding 200,000 square feet, offer the expansive, clear-span floor plans that align with ICE’s desired operational efficiency. And of course, let’s not forget that Washington County is already home to multiple Maryland prisons, including MCI-H and MCTC.

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However, the potential establishment of such a facility in Washington County, Maryland faces significant legal and regulatory obstacles. The state’s Dignity Not Detention Act, enacted in 2021, prohibits state agencies and local governments from contracting with private entities to operate immigration detention facilities. This law could present a direct challenge if ICE opts to use a private contractor, such as CoreCivic or The GEO Group, to manage a Hagerstown facility, but could also be potentially subject to Federal preemption. Beyond state-level legislation, local zoning ordinances and building codes could also pose hurdles. In other jurisdictions, local officials have asserted that federal leasing of private properties does not exempt them from local regulations. Converting a warehouse from industrial use to an institutional or correctional facility typically necessitates a public review process, including special exception hearings. This would likely provide a platform for local opposition, as has already been indicated by some elected officials.

Given the zoning challenges of converting a warehouse to a detention facility, a possibly more likely scenario is the conversion of an educational campus. For many years closed school facilities have been turned into apartment buildings, and zoning is typically much more friendly towards repurposing closed educational facilities into housing facilities.

The circumstances surrounding the failed efforts to utilize the Scotland Campus in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, offer a relevant precedent for the challenges ICE might encounter. Federal contractors explored repurposing this former school for housing and processing unaccompanied immigrant minors and families. These proposals were ultimately thwarted by local zoning restrictions, as the campus was situated in a low-density residential district where such use was not permitted. Significant public and political outcry, including strong opposition from state legislators, further contributed to the failure of these plans. Concerns were also raised by county officials regarding the strain such a facility would place on local infrastructure, healthcare, and public safety services. The Scotland Campus, currently back on the market, is being promoted for its proximity to major transportation routes.

Two former educational facilities in Hagerstown could meet the requirements for repurposing. The closure of St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Hagerstown in June 2024 due to financial difficulties has led to its property becoming available for lease, and the closure of the former Hagerstown Business College, also in Hagerstown, also has the potential to meet ICE requirements with the building currently for sale. While local officials have not indicated they have been formally contacted by ICE regarding the use of this site for detention purposes, Goretti’s main academic building, which underwent significant renovation in 2021, could potentially meet the criteria for a smaller processing site, a role envisioned for locations handling up to 1,500 individuals as part of the broader network. Nevertheless, any move towards such a use for either property would confront similar obstacles to those faced by the Scotland Campus, including zoning restrictions that would likely require special exception or rezoning approvals. Concerns about adequate infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems, and the existing legislative opposition within Maryland to new ICE facilities would also need to be addressed, although these would likely be less challenging than attempts to convert a warehouse.

As of late December 2025, no official lease agreement for an ICE facility in Hagerstown has been documented, and no searches of county permitting system returned any potential results, so this is all just theoretical at this point. Additionally, the city of Hagerstown has issued a statement that they have no knowledge of any official plans regarding an ICE facility. However, since Washington Post said the document was still in draft form, it’s possible we may not see any movement on this proposal for several months.

We will continue to monitor and investigate any potential developments regarding ICE facilities in Hagerstown.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from The Washington Post, Washington County Permitting, Bowen Commercial Real Estate, LoopNet Commercial Real Estate, and previous coverage.

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