ICE Confirms Purchase of Massive 825,000 Sq Ft Detention Facility in Maryland
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have finalized the acquisition of a colossal industrial property in Williamsport, Maryland, marking a significant expansion of federal detention capabilities in the region. The facility, located at 16220 Wright Road near Hagerstown, spans over 825,000 square feet on approximately 53 acres of land.
Transaction Details and Scope
Public property records confirm the federal government purchased the warehouse from FRND-Hopewell, LLC for approximately $102.4 million. The site, originally built for commercial logistics, is slated for conversion into a high-capacity “processing and detention” center. Internal documents suggest the facility will be outfitted to house an estimated 1,500 detainees, functioning as a critical node in a new national network designed to accelerate deportation proceedings. This purchase aligns with a recent federal initiative to acquire large-scale industrial spaces—including similar warehouse acquisitions in Pennsylvania and Arizona—to rapidly increase detention bed space outside of traditional prison contracts.
Political and Legal Backlash
The acquisition has ignited a firestorm of controversy among Maryland officials and civil rights advocates. The move is widely seen as a direct challenge to Maryland’s “Dignity Not Detention Act,” a state law passed in 2021 intended to end local cooperation with federal immigration detention. Representative April McClain Delaney and Senator Chris Van Hollen have publicly condemned the purchase, with Delaney describing the covert planning of the facility as “intimidation” rather than governance.
Critics argue that by purchasing the property outright, the federal government is attempting to circumvent state oversight and zoning regulations that would otherwise block such a project. The ACLU of Maryland has issued strong warnings regarding the expansion, citing a history of alleged medical neglect and poor conditions at other ICE facilities in the region.
Local Conflict and National Context
While state-level leadership has opposed the move, the local response remains divided. The Washington County Board of Commissioners recently passed a resolution declaring support for ICE and its enforcement mission, a decision that sparked immediate protests from residents during the meeting.
This facility is part of a broader “warehouse-to-detention” strategy being deployed by federal immigration authorities. By converting existing industrial infrastructure rather than building from scratch, the agency aims to operationalize new detention centers more quickly to meet aggressive enforcement targets. The Hagerstown site is expected to serve as a regional hub, holding detainees for short periods before their transfer or removal.
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