Washington County Commissioners’ Resolution on ICE Sparks Debate

A recent resolution passed by the Washington County Board of County Commissioners expressing general support for national border security and immigration law enforcement has ignited differing perspectives from local political committees. The Washington County Republican Central Committee has publicly aligned itself with the commissioners’ vote, emphasizing the importance of upholding national laws and supporting law enforcement. Conversely, the Washington County Democratic Central Committee has voiced significant concerns, urging the commissioners to publicly oppose the establishment of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility within the county.

The Republican Central Committee’s statement, released on February 13, 2026, indicated that the county commissioners were not involved in the sale of a warehouse on Hopewell Road to the Federal Government. This transaction, described as a private land sale, reportedly occurred without prior consultation or approval from Washington County officials. The committee views the commissioners’ resolution as a reflection of the majority sentiment among county residents who favor robust support for law enforcement and the active enforcement of immigration laws. The Republican committee also expressed support for legal immigration and highlighted what it characterized as successes of the Trump administration in reducing illegal border crossings, increasing deportations, and facilitating self-deportations, attributing these outcomes to collaboration with local law enforcement. They further contrasted this with the previous Biden administration, which they claim led to an influx of undocumented immigrants that strained public services and negatively impacted wages, housing, and insurance rates. The committee also acknowledged the rescue of unaccompanied and trafficked children and lamented the crimes committed by some undocumented immigrants. The Republican committee’s stance includes encouragement for federal, state, and local cooperation to ensure humane care and processing of detainees should the Hopewell Road facility become operational. They also expressed hope for collaboration to secure funding for necessary infrastructure improvements.

In contrast, the Washington County Democratic Central Committee, in a statement dated February 8, 2026 prior to the County Commissioners passing the resolution, expressed deep concern over recent remarks made by Board of County Commissioners President John Barr. Barr’s comments, which reportedly suggested the county could “make lemonade out of lemons” and “soak it to them” through fees and revenue related to an ICE facility, were described as troubling. The WCDCC views this approach as treating a facility potentially linked to family separation and civil rights issues as a mere financial transaction, rather than a moral and civic concern. The Democratic committee is advocating for the Board of County Commissioners to publicly oppose the ICE detention facility, refuse county resources or assistance for ICE operations, and ensure local public assets are not utilized for detention or deportation efforts. They also called for comprehensive historical and environmental reviews, including archaeological surveys, before any further action is taken, and emphasized the need to respect the voices of residents who have expressed their opposition. The WCDCC stressed that county leaders have an obligation to protect the county’s values of dignity and shared responsibility, suggesting that accountability will be sought at the ballot box for decisions made and voices ignored.

Both statements in their entirety are below.

Regarding the Proposed ICE Detention Facility and Recent Statements by BOCC President John Barr

The Washington County Democratic Central Committee is issuing this statement in response to recent developments regarding the proposed ICE detention facility and to public comments by Board of County Commissioners President John Barr.

During a recent interview, Commissioner Barr characterized the arrival of an ICE facility as an opportunity to “make lemonade out of lemons” and suggested the county should “soak it to them” through fees and revenue. These remarks are deeply troubling. They reflect a governing mindset that treats a facility tied to family separation, detention, and civil-rights violations as a financial transaction rather than a profound moral and civic issue.

Leadership requires transparency, accountability, and respect for human life. It is not demonstrated through casual or dismissive language delivered outside of formal public forums, nor through silence when residents repeatedly ask for clarity and honesty. Washington County residents deserve open dialogue, not decisions made behind closed doors or framed as unavoidable outcomes.

The WCDCC urges the Board of County Commissioners to act responsibly and ethically by:

• Publicly opposing the establishment of an ICE detention facility in Washington County.
• Refusing to provide county resources, infrastructure support, or voluntary assistance that would facilitate ICE operations.
• Ensuring local public assets are not used in ways that contribute to detention or deportation efforts.
• Requiring comprehensive historical and environmental reviews, including a full Phase I archaeological survey, before any further action is taken.
• Respecting the voices of residents who have spoken out consistently and in good faith.

Washington County is a community rooted in history, dignity, and shared responsibility. Our elected officials have an obligation to protect those values — not dismiss them. Accountability continues at the ballot box. The choices made today, and the voices ignored along the way, should be remembered when it is time to elect commissioners who truly represent and care for Washington County. Our community deserves leadership who listens, acts transparently, and places people over politics. The power to demand better representation ultimately rests with the voters — and real change is possible when that power is exercised.

Washington County Democratic Central Committee, February 8, 2026

Republican Party Supports the Adopted Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners

The Washington County Republican Central Committee stands with our County Commissioners who voted on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 for a resolution of general support for the important mission of securing our Nation’s borders and the enforcement of immigration laws. 

It is our understanding that the Washington County Board of County Commissioners were not consulted in the sale of the Hopewell Road warehouse, and that the sale of the vacant warehouse was a private land sale between the owners of the property and the Federal Government that occurred without coordination or approvals by Washington County. 

The County Commissioners clearly understand the critical importance of upholding our Nation’s laws and working collaboratively to secure and protect citizens and legal residents, and therefore, passed a public resolution of support for the President’s agenda and Department of Homeland Security. 

The vote of support for law enforcement reflected the popular sentiment of the majority of Washington County residents who believe in supporting law enforcement and the active enforcement of immigration laws. 

The Washington County Republican Central Committee supports legal immigration and also our legal immigrant citizens and legal foreign residents who worked through the proper process to become productive and contributing members of Washington County. 

We congratulate President Trump and his Administration for success over the past year in accomplishing the following three items: 1) for the past 10 months there has been a near net-zero number of illegal border crossings; 2) nearly 700,000 illegal immigrants deported; and 3) nearly 2 million self-deportations.  Overwhelmingly the successful immigration enforcement operations were accomplished peacefully across the country due to close collaboration with local law enforcement.

Under former President Biden, an open borders policy flooded the country with over 20 million illegals according to estimates which severely stressed public services, suppressed wages, raised costs for public schools, negatively impacted housing availability and even escalated already excessive car insurance rates.  We are thankful that the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security have rescued nearly 190,000 of the approximate 400,000 unaccompanied and trafficked children that came into our country under Biden. We recognize the fact, unfortunately, that too many of our fellow citizens have been victims of horrific crimes, rape and murder at the hands of criminal illegal immigrants.

We encourage federal, state, and local cooperation with law enforcement at all levels of government in order to avoid bad outcomes and chaos in the enforcement and processing associated with immigration enforcement.  

Importantly, the removal of illegal immigrants, some of whom are violent and criminals, reduces crime in our community. 

It is our understanding that the Board of County Commissioners has very few details about the Hopewell Road Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) project and were not consulted before the private sale of the Industrial General property that was always zoned and principally permitted for penal and correctional institutions. It is our hope that federal, state and county collaboration and cooperation will address many of the concerns of county residents related to things such as the funding of potential infrastructure improvements.  We ask our community leaders and elected officials to work collaboratively with federal entities to find funding or other offsets to support any required improvements in public utilities and infrastructure.

The Washington County Republican Central Committee supports all the citizens and legal residents of Washington County.  We will demand lawful and humane care and processing of illegal immigrant detainees should the Hopewell Road facility become operational. 

Washington County Republican Central Committee, February 13, 2026

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from the Washington County Republican Central Committee and the Washington County Democratic Central Committee.

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