Washington County Officials Meet with Homeland Security to Discuss New ICE Facility

In what has been described as “open dialogue”, Washington County officials have held an initial meeting with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility planned for the area, according to a press release released by the county. This marks the first formal contact between local authorities and DHS concerning the project, which was previously undisclosed to the county. According to a statement by County Administrator Michelle Gordon the following morning at the County Commissioners meeting, the initial meeting aimed to establish communication channels and address potential community concerns and the impact on local resources.

The facility in question is designated as a processing and booking center, distinct from a long-term detention facility. Its primary function will be to manage the intake of detainees, who are anticipated to stay on-site for an average of three to seven days before being transferred to other locations out of state. While the facility is expected to commonly utilize around 500 beds, its total capacity will extend to 1,500 beds.

A significant aspect of the discussions revolved around the physical transformation of an existing warehouse into the new facility and the potential demands this would place on local utilities. As previously reported by Radio Free Hub City, DHS has contracted KVG LLC for the renovation work, including the engineering necessary to manage water and sewer requirements. Federal authorities have stated that the U.S. government will bear all costs associated with expanded capacity and necessary infrastructure upgrades, specifically referencing compensation for the Wright Road facility’s associated sewage treatment upgrades. KVG LLC is designated as the primary contact for the county and city concerning future service requirements.

County officials also raised concerns about the potential strain on local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and healthcare facilities. DHS has indicated that medical care within the facility will be managed internally, with a dedicated 24/7 staff of physicians and nurses, and does not expect substantial reliance on local medical or EMS teams. The facility is slated to offer a comprehensive suite of ancillary services, including provisions for food, religious services, recreation, and legal support. According to DHS, the facility will operate under stringent national detention standards and will undergo regular audits by independent third-party organizations on a monthly and annual basis.

Some community members however, still raised concerns.

Taj Smith, who is the president of the local NAACP and running for County Commissioner, criticized the commissioners during the following 9-1-1 fee increase public hearing. Smith spoke regarding the fiscal and public services impact of ICE purchasing the warehouse in Williamsport, to which her remarks were declared “irrelevant.” Upon being gaveled by President John Barr, Smith’s audio was cut and Barr requested law enforcement to remove her.

“Residents are being told that county officials are engaging with DHS about a project that could dramatically impact our infrastructure, our community, and our reputation — but the public only finds out about those conversations after they’re over,” said Patrick Dattilio with Hagerstown Rapid Response in a press release. “That’s not transparency. That’s damage control.” Dattilio is currently running for Democratic Central Committee in Washington County.

“This press release reads less like an update for residents and more like a public relations memo meant to create the illusion that the county finally cares about constituent concerns,” said Claire Connor of Hagerstown Rapid Response. “Residents have been asking these questions for months and getting silence. It’s clear our local government does not value dialogue with voters — they’ve even blocked me from commenting on the Washington County Government Facebook page. That raises serious First Amendment concerns.”

Work on the facility is currently on hold after a temporary 14 day order as part of a lawsuit by the State of Maryland.

Radio Free Hub City has multiple open Public Information Act requests with Washington County regarding the facility, as well as Freedom of Information Act requests with the Department of Homeland Security. Most of these requests have exceeded 30 days, and are now overdue.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County.

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