Washington County Government Has Known About Proposed Immigration Facility Since January 14

Washington County officials confirmed they were notified on January 14, 2026, of potential federal plans to establish a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Baltimore Processing Facility in Williamsport, Maryland. A letter from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Washington County Planning and Zoning Department and the Historic District Commission outlined the federal agency’s analysis of purchasing a warehouse located at 10900 Hopewell Road, also identified as 16220 Wright Road. The proposed facility would involve significant construction and site improvements to accommodate holding and processing functions, office space, and public areas.

The planned enhancements for the site, as detailed in the DHS communication, include the construction of holding and processing areas, administrative offices, and spaces designated for public visitors. Additionally, the project envisions the installation of essential amenities such as cafeterias, restrooms, and healthcare facilities. Site improvements proposed in the letter are extensive and encompass the installation, upgrading, or rehabilitation of existing parking lots, fencing, exterior lighting, landscaping, drainage and stormwater management systems, recreational areas, and security cameras. The possibility of installing temporary structures, such as tents, and guard shacks was also mentioned.

The correspondence from DHS was issued in accordance with a federal law mandating that the agency inform local governments about its assessment of whether a proposed project might impact historic properties. In this instance, DHS communicated a finding of “No Historic Properties Affected” regarding the warehouse property. Federal law does not grant local counties the authority to contest such a determination made by a federal agency.

Established legal principles, often referred to as the Supremacy Clause, generally permit federal government entities to operate independently of local zoning regulations when those regulations conflict with federal objectives. Consequently, federal agencies have historically not been required to obtain zoning approval from local governments for their projects. This practice extends to the proposed facility at 16220 Wright Road, where Washington County has not been consulted for zoning approval.

While Washington County maintains that land use decisions are best managed at the local level, the legal framework clearly indicates that federal government ownership of property exempts it from local restrictions on development. Therefore, Washington County does not possess the legal authority to prevent the federal government from proceeding with its plans for the site. As of the notification, DHS had not informed Washington County that the purchase of the property has been finalized.

Radio Free Hub City has requested a full copy of the letter from DHS.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Government and U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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