Concerns grow over 1,500-bed ICE center near Williamsport

Concerns grow over 1,500-bed ICE center near Williamsport

Governor Wes Moore and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney met Monday with Washington County community leaders to discuss concerns over the Trump administration’s proposal to build a 1,500‑bed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center near Williamsport.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Governor Wes Moore and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney met Monday with Washington County community leaders to discuss concerns over the Trump administration’s proposal to build a 1,500‑bed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center near Williamsport.

What we know:

"As you may have heard, there are some very real concerns that I have about what is being proposed. You know, people who have come to me — and our time in the state of Maryland — my number one priority is public safety, is making sure that people are safe in their neighborhoods, in their communities," said Moore. 

Washington County commissioners said they met with the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month to review the plan. According to county officials, the site would operate as a short‑term processing and booking facility and not a long‑term detention center. Detainees would typically remain three to seven days before being transferred to out‑of‑state facilities.

READ MORE: Washington County officials meet with DHS as ICE facility details emerge amid legal fight

Officials said the center is designed for up to 1,500 beds, though the expected average daily population is about 500 people. DHS also told county leaders the facility would include 24/7 in‑house medical staff, including doctors and nurses, to reduce the impact on local emergency services.

Because the property is federally owned, county officials say Washington County has no jurisdiction or oversight authority over the project.

"Let’s be honest about this. This isn’t about the environment. It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe again," an ICE spokesperson said in a statement provided to FOX 5 DC. "The left didn’t care about the mountains of litter that illegal aliens dropped on ranches and riverbeds during Biden’s border crisis. They’re feigning concern now because they want those same illegal aliens to stay forever and vote here." 

"DHS aims to work with officials on both sides of the aisle to expand detention space to help ICE law enforcement carry out the largest deportation effort in American history," they added. 

Construction on the facility is currently paused by a federal court order, but that order expires Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 18: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is interviewed by David Rubenstein alongside Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt at the Economic Club on February 18, 2026 in Washington, DC. As Chair and Vice Chair of the National Governors Association, S

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