ICE Detention Centers Blocked By Howard County Council

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Two emergency bills to block the use of privately owned buildings as federal detention centers and limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to county facilities and properties were approved Thursday night by the Howard County Council. The measures also ban any kind of ICE agreement with any county agency.

Hundreds of residents voiced concerns Wednesday night at a public meeting held regarding the emergency bills. 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.

One of the emergency bills was introduced by Howard County Executive Calvin Bill earlier this week after the county inspected a building in Elkridge that leaders believed was being renovated for use as an ICE detention facility. That building permit has since been revoked by the county.

State law requires private immigration detention centers to meet certain notice and public hearing requirements, officials said.

The second bill proposed by Councilwoman Liz Walsh establishes guidance related to immigration enforcement action at county facilities and property, requiring county departments to adopt specific policies on immigration enforcement.

Before council members voted Thursday night, they thanked community members for speaking out on the subject.

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The bill proposed by Ball passed unanimously. The second bill proposed by Walsh passed 4-1 with councilman David Yungmann voting against it. During the meeting, Yungmann and Councilwoman Deb Jung shared concerns expressed by county employees and emphasized the need to discuss the bill further before they could vote.

Ball will sign both measures into law Friday morning.

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.

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.

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.