Owner Of Warehouse ICE Plans To Use Sues Howard County

ELKRIDGE, MD — The owner of a building proposed for use by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has sued Howard County and elected officials after the planned detention center was blocked by emergency legislation.

The owner, listed in the lawsuit as Genesis GSA Strategic One LLC, claims that county officials interfered with and obstructed the federal government's authority to enforce immigration law and open detention sites. It states that the county violated the U.S. Constitution and a federal civil rights law but backing away from the project.

Specifically that the county signed off on more than 90% of the construction before abruptly revoking permits last month because officials discovered that ICE would occupy the building.

According to court documents, Genesis GSA Strategic claims county officials were aware of the building's intended use and knew it was to be turned over to ICE.

The lawsuit also states that Howard County Chief of Plan Review Donald Mock attended Zoom calls with ICE officials where the facility's operations and purported use were explained in detail. According to court documents, ICE officials stated that no detainee would be held at the facility for more than 12 hours.

Genesis GSA Strategic, LLC says more than $21 million has been spent renovating the facility in Elkridge and is seeking compensatory damages, attorneys' fees, and additional relief, which includes tens of millions of dollars in property acquisition and construction costs, WMAR reported.

The Howard County Council passed two emergency bills to block the use of privately owned buildings as federal detention centers and limit ICE access to county facilities and properties on Feb. 5. The measures also ban any kind of ICE agreement with any county agency, Patch previously reported.

One of the emergency bills was introduced by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball after the county inspected a building in Elkridge that leaders believed was being renovated for use as an ICE detention facility. That building permit was revoked by the county.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, Patch previously reported.

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 in February.

Related:

• 2 ICE Detention Centers In MD Face Different Fates
• ICE Detention Centers In Private Buildings Opposed In Howard County
• Vote On ICE Detention Centers In Howard County Set For Thursday
• ICE Detention Centers Blocked By Howard County Council