2 ICE Detention Centers In MD Face Different Fates

Once Howard County leaders realized federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement was converting an office building to use as a detention center in an unincorporated community some 15 miles southwest of Baltimore, they acted. But a different ICE center across the state in Washington County is likely to open despite local opposition, officials say.

Residents and leaders in both counties are asking if local and state laws — both those on the books and those being pushed to stop ICE detention centers from opening in the blue state — can trump federal initiatives.

Both centers are part of a nationwide effort by ICE to massively expand its detention facilities, possibly by converting up to two dozen properties, according to Bloomberg.

One of those parcels is a $102 million site near Hagerstown in western Maryland, according to a court filing. The purchase price covers just the acquisition of the site, which is currently empty. ICE still has to pay companies to renovate the buildings to add toilets, showers, beds, dining and recreation areas and then run them as detention centers, Bloomberg said.

Howard County's Rejection

Howard County this week revoked a building permit for ICE in Elkridge, which aimed to use 28,614 square feet of office space at 6522 Meadowridge Road. A permitting company known as McKeever Services, located in Fairfax, Virginia, applied for and received a permit to renovate the building owned by Genesis GSA Strategic One, LLC.

"Across our country, across Maryland, here in Howard County, we have seen enforcement actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE. These actions are understandably raising questions about safety, responsibility and the role of the local government," County Executive Calvin Ball said at a recent news conference. "To be clear, the Howard County government, including the Howard County Police and sheriff's office do not enforce federal immigration law and will not assist with immigrant enforcement activities. That position is grounded in the values of our county."

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.”

But the project runs counter to a local law. 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.

The revocation of the building permit follows Ball’s submission of emergency legislation, Council Bill 16-2026, with the Howard County Council to prohibit the permitting of privately owned buildings operating as detention centers in the county.

The County Council considered the introduction of emergency legislation to block an ICE facility in the county during its legislative session Monday night and the public may comment during the council's public hearing Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City.

Washington County Project

ICE has purchased a warehouse in Washington County, raising concerns from some state lawmakers.

Hundreds of residents opposed to the ICE center gathered Monday night in Hagerstown, WJZ reported.

"Me and my partner are going to be moving soon and finding out that something so heinous was going to be in our backyard. It just kind of seemed like something that we wanted to speak up about," Turner Queen told the TV station.

Washington County officials said in a statement to WBAL-TV: "It is Washington County's position that decisions about land use are best made locally. However, the legal reality when property is owned by the federal government is clear. Washington County is not able to legally restrict the federal government's ability to proceed."

"I was absolutely disgusted. You know, we're a state known for our liberal point of views, and taking care of people and putting people first, and a detention center is exactly the opposite of that," Samantha Lester of Arbutus said of plans for the Hagerstown facility.

To reach its goal of deporting 1 million people a year, the Trump administration has said it needs more than 100,000 detention beds, Bloomberg News reported. Currently, there are more than 73,000 people in ICE custody, a record. The new sites could give the agency an additional 76,500 beds.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney said on Jan. 27 that ICE's purchase of the warehouse in Washington County's historic Williamsport was "carried out without transparency, community input, or accountability (and) is unacceptable. … Let me be clear: planning a detention facility behind closed doors is not governance - it is intimidation. For DHS to make such egregious plans in the cloak of darkness is yet another example of a lawless agency hellbent on harassing, assaulting, and killing our neighbors."