Vote On ICE Detention Centers In Howard County Set For Thursday

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Hundreds of residents voiced concerns Wednesday night at a meeting held regarding emergency bills introduced that would prevent privately-owned buildings from being used as Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.

The Howard County Council will vote Thursday at a 6 p.m. meeting on the bills.

"These types of transactions can't happen under everyone's noses," said Councilmember Opel Jones during the meeting. "It needs to be out in the forefront. We need to notify the public, give it time and be able to say yay or nay, we do like this or not."

One emergency bill was introduced by Howard County Executive Calvin Bill this week after the county inspected a building in Elkridge that leaders believed was being renovated for use asn an ICE detention facility.

Related: Proposed ICE Detention Center In Howard Co. Has Building Permit Revoked

That permit was revoked by the Howard County director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits. State law requires private immigration detention centers to meet certain notice and public hearing requirements, officials said.

Recent reporting and leasing advertisements indicate the 28,614 square feet of office space in Elkridge is intended for occupancy by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Pursuant to Maryland law2, Howard County has reason to believe that the facility under renovation at 6522 Meadowridge Road appears to meet the definition of an “immigration detention facility” as defined by state code.

A permitting company known as McKeever Services, located in Fairfax, Virginia, applied for and received a permit to renovate 28,614 square feet within an existing building owned by Genesis GSA Strategic One, LLC.

The building permit was issued Aug. 5, 2025, with the following description of work: “General services administration/scope of work includes improvement of tenant spaces support areas, detention facility, detainee processing and secured waiting area.” County inspections indicate much of the work covered by the permit is nearing completion. The most recent inspection was on Dec. 29, 2025, and passed with conditions for additional inspections that would be required before any use and occupancy certificate could be issued.

Ball said he opposed the proposed detention center that was planned for an existing office park in Elkridge in close proximity to health care providers, schools, parks and neighborhoods.

"The retrofitting private office buildings for detention use without transparency, without public input, without clear oversight is deeply troubling," Ball said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

Scott and Sandra Morrison live near the proposed site in Howard County.

"She has students right in the neighborhood that are of Hispanic origin," Scott Morrison said during the public hearing. "The whole presence of their [ICE's] aggressive tactics just brings an open flame to a powder keg situation."

A partner bill proposed establishes guidance related to immigration enforcement action at county facilities and property, requiring county departments to adopt specific policies on immigration enforcement.

Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) also spoke at the meeting. Elfreth voted Tuesday against additional funding for DHS and ICE. She has also been outspoken against the weaponization of ICE in Minneapolis and called for the impeachment of U.S. Secretary Noem.

"I'd like to start by thanking the Council for not just taking up this bill, but expediting this bill. I'd like to thank my partner, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, for taking quick and decisive action this week. But if I could take a moment, Mc. Chair, I'd like to thank everyone in this room for showing up on really difficult days, for standing with your neighbors in tremendously trying times. You give me hope, even on the really hard days in Washington. I just want to thank everyone for participating in this democratic process. This is who we are and what we're supposed to be," Elfreth said during the meeting.

The County Council considered the emergency legislation during its legislative session Monday night. The public was allowed to comment during the council's public hearing Wednesday.

Ball said he's working with Gov. Wes Moore's office and the Howard County state delegation on similar emergency legislation at the state level to block ICE facilities through third parties.
The proposed facility would have been located within a one-mile radius of these places:

• Deep Run Elementary School
• Mayfield Woods Middle School
• Waterloo Park
• Troy Park
• Timbers at Troy Golf Course
• Gateway Overlook Shopping Center
• Ascension Saint Agnes Primary Care Elkridge
• Tarbiyah Academy
• Howard County Government Bureau of Highways' Mayfield Shop

In 2020, the Howard County Council passed the Liberty Act, which prohibits the use of county resources for immigration enforcement unless it is required by federal or state law, an international treaty, or an existing intergovernmental service agreement.

ICE also bought a warehouse in Washington County that the agency said would be used as a detention center. The federal government paid more than $100 million to buy the warehouse in Williamsport, near Hagerstown, with plans to convert it into an ICE detention center with space for 1,500 beds. County leaders there say they cannot stop ICE from using the facility as a detention center.

Related:

• 2 ICE Detention Centers In MD Face Different Fates
• ICE Detention Centers In Private Buildings Opposed In Howard County