Federal Court Temporarily Stops Maryland Immigration Detention Center Construction

A Maryland federal judge has temporarily halted work on a massive immigration detention facility following the state's environmental lawsuit. The facility, located in Washington County, was set to house 1,500 people and cost over $100 million to convert from a warehouse.

Construction has been temporarily suspended on a major immigration detention facility in Maryland after a federal judge sided with state environmental concerns this week.

U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson issued the restraining order Wednesday, putting work on hold for up to two weeks while the court reviews Maryland’s broader legal challenge to the project.

The facility, situated on 54 acres in Washington County, involves converting an existing warehouse into a detention center with capacity for 1,500 individuals. Federal officials have invested more than $100 million in the project, according to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, who filed the lawsuit in February.

Brown’s legal team contended that the Trump administration bypassed required environmental assessments and failed to seek public comment before moving forward with construction.

In his ruling, Judge Hurson determined the state demonstrated federal officials “likely failed to comply with their obligations under (the National Environmental Policy Act).”

The judge further noted that “Defendants do not appear to have taken a ‘hard look’ at the potential environmental consequences of their plans for the Williamsport Warehouse.”

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had previously indicated willingness to collaborate with state authorities on expanding detention capacity. However, federal officials have disputed Maryland’s claims that environmental issues are the true basis for the legal action.

The Trump administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights organizations, who argue the policies violate constitutional protections and create dangerous conditions for minority communities.

Trump has defended his immigration policies as necessary measures to combat illegal border crossings and enhance national security.

Attorney General Brown celebrated the court decision as a victory for proper legal procedures.

“Though temporary, this ruling stops the construction of this massive immigration detention center while our lawsuit continues to play out in court. We will not let DHS and ICE rush through the proper legal process in their haste to ramp up deportations,” Brown stated.