‘We have no new detention centers to announce at this time’ DHS Statement on Purchase of Hagerstown Area Warehouse

In response to our inquiries, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a statement regarding the acquisition of a warehouse facility in Williamsport, Maryland. While the public records have confirmed the purchase by DHS for usage by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the specific use of the Hagerstown facility has not been detailed, and the agency did not confirm if it would be utilized as a detention center. The statement emphasized that the department and its ICE component are consistently engaged in law enforcement activities aimed at ensuring public safety nationwide.

The department highlighted that ICE is actively working to increase its capacity to detain individuals, focusing on apprehending those identified as dangerous criminals, including those with convictions for violent offenses, gang affiliation, and other serious crimes. This expansion aims to facilitate the removal of individuals who pose a risk to American communities.

The statement also provided examples of recent arrests made by ICE in Maryland, illustrating the types of offenses committed by individuals apprehended. These examples include an arrest in Silver Spring of an individual with convictions for homicide and larceny, and an arrest in Annapolis involving convictions for sexual assault and incest. Additionally, arrests in Hagerstown were noted, involving individuals with convictions for sex offenses, aggravated assault with a weapon, drug trafficking, and weapon possession.

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The DHS response is reproduced below in full.

“Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe. 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.

ICE is targeting the worst of the worst including murderers, rapists, criminals, gang members and more. 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE has new funding to expand detention space to keep these criminals off American streets before they are removed for good from our communities. We have no new detention centers to announce at this time.”

Below are some of the worst of the worst ICE has arrested in Maryland:

Vladimir Herrera-Garica, a criminal illegal alien arrested in Silver Spring, MD with convictions for homicide and larceny.  

Rafael Eusebio Martinez, a criminal illegal alien arrested in Annapolis, MD with convictions for sexual assault and incest.

Jose Antonio Rodas-Ortes, a criminal illegal alien arrested in Hagerstown, MD with convictions for sex offenses.

Mohamed Bah, a criminal illegal alien arrested in Hagerstown, MD with convictions for aggravated assault with a gun, cocaine, assault, and possessing a weapon.

Allan Garcia-Pinto, a criminal illegal alien arrested in Hagerstown, MD with convictions for drug trafficking.”

DHS Spokesperson

We will continue to cover this story as more information becomes available.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Department of Homeland Security

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