New Jersey Files Lawsuit to Block Federal Immigration Detention Center

New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to prevent the construction of a proposed federal immigration detention facility. The state joins Maryland in legal action against similar detention center plans.

New Jersey officials have filed legal action against the Trump administration on Friday, challenging plans for a federal immigration detention facility within state borders.

The lawsuit mirrors similar action taken by Maryland officials last month, who sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to prevent construction of a comparable detention center in their state.

Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed the legal challenge against DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, targeting federal plans to transform an empty warehouse into a major detention center capable of housing 1,500 individuals.

According to New Jersey officials, the Trump administration intends to proceed with the warehouse conversion and facility operations while ignoring state concerns regarding water systems, sewage infrastructure, and public safety issues.

State leaders also argue the federal plan fails to consider the location’s environmentally sensitive nature or evaluate whether the warehouse represents “an appropriate place” for such a detention operation.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

President Donald Trump, who returned to office last year as a Republican, campaigned on implementing a robust immigration enforcement strategy. During his administration’s first year, officials worked to increase immigration arrests, detentions, and deportations.

Moving into the second year, the Trump administration has allocated over $38 billion for detention center operations, a funding level designed to expand ICE’s overall detention capacity to 92,600 beds.