Maryland Attorney General Secures Temporary Injunction Against ICE Detention Facility

A federal court has granted Maryland’s request for a preliminary injunction, halting the construction and operation of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Washington County, Maryland. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland’s order prevents the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE from converting a warehouse near Williamsport into a detention center while a lawsuit challenging the project proceeds. The ruling is a significant victory for the state, which argued the facility’s development violated federal administrative and environmental laws.

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on February 23, 2026, specifically challenged the purchase and planned conversion of the warehouse. According to the Attorney General’s office, DHS and ICE were moving rapidly to establish the facility, with efforts continuing even as legal obligations were being reviewed. The preliminary injunction ensures that the federal government cannot irreversibly damage waterways, the environment, and local communities before the lawsuit is fully adjudicated. It also aims to prevent the federal government from bypassing required legal processes in its efforts to expand detention capacity. The court’s order allows for limited activities related to the security and repair of the building to maintain its structural integrity, but prohibits any conversion or operation as a detention facility. This follows an earlier Temporary Restraining Order issued on March 11, which had temporarily paused construction and was extended until April 16. The motion for a preliminary injunction was filed on March 19, seeking to stop the conversion of the warehouse into a “mass immigration detention facility.”

Governor Wes Moore also issued a statement following the court’s decision, calling the preliminary injunction a “major and welcome step forward.” He emphasized that construction remains halted pending litigation, which is crucial for protecting the environment, public safety, health, and economic stability of the community. Governor Moore reiterated concerns previously raised by Washington County, including potential environmental damage, strain on water and sewer capacity, impacts on emergency services, and loss of economic opportunities, along with a perceived lack of transparency surrounding the project. The Governor stated that his administration will continue to collaborate with Attorney General Brown, local leaders, and Maryland’s congressional delegation to ensure legal compliance and safeguard the well-being of Maryland residents.

Local activists also shared their perspective on the ruling. “This is a major early victory and a serious legal rebuke of DHS’s attempt to force this detention warehouse onto our community,” said Patrick Dattilio for Hagerstown Rapid Response. “When a federal judge says the government’s arguments ‘don’t pass the laugh test,’ it says everything about how flimsy and outrageous this project has been from the start. But as long as any construction continues, this fight is not over. We will continue escalating protests, organizing our community, and applying relentless pressure until it is formally and permanently ruled that this warehouse will never open as an ICE detention facility.”

The preliminary injunction means that residents of Washington County will not immediately face the potential environmental and community impacts associated with the new detention facility. The legal challenge will now continue, with the court’s order providing a period of pause to allow for a thorough review of the state’s claims.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Governor Wes Moore

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