ICE Supposedly Purchased This NJ Warehouse. Then Things Got Complicated

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — After rumors that a warehouse in Roxbury had been officially sold to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be turned into a detention facility, officials have cleared up the confusion.

A recent report from the Gothamist said that an ICE spokesperson confirmed that a warehouse in Roxbury had been purchased by the federal agency, a rumored plan that has been looming over the community for months.

“The Department of Homeland Security says ICE has purchased a warehouse property in Roxbury, New Jersey, to use for future immigrant detention facilities,” the report reads.

The report was met with confusion from citizens and local officials, who were blindsided when they learned that the deal had already gone through.

Or, so they thought.

An ICE official told TAPinto Roxbury that the purchase confirmation provided to the Gothamist was sent by “mistake,” and that no purchase has been made yet.

The report adds that the warehouse owners, Dalfen Industrial, told Potillo, “I just saw an article that the deal closed. This remains untrue.”

The confusion in Morris County mirrored similar issues in Chester, New York, where ICE retracted a statement saying it had purchased a facility there, also calling the false claim a “mistake,” News 12 reported.

Roxbury officials have remained adamant that they oppose the facility in the township.

Echoing their sentiments is Senator Corey Booker, who says the federal agency is “acting with impunity.”

“ICE’s most recent reported purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury to use as a detention center is an affront to the Roxbury community, who resoundingly rejected the prospect of a facility weeks ago,” Booker said before the report was deemed false. “I joined them in this call, expressing my clear and unequivocal opposition to the construction, conversion, or opening of any more immigration detention centers in New Jersey. These facilities have no place in our communities.”

More: Senator Cory Booker Slams ICE Activity In Morris County

Local And State Pushback

Residents have strongly opposed the proposed detention center, with the most recent protest happening just this week.

More than 450 people gathered at the Ledgewood Commons in Roxbury on Monday to protest ICE activity in their neighborhood. The demonstration was organized by the No ICE North Jersey Alliance (NINJA) in partnership with Sussex Visibility Brigade.

“Today's turnout demonstrates the pent-up desire to express how strongly the community of Roxbury opposes this,” said William Angus, a NINJA spokesperson. “There are many reasons to oppose an ICE detention center here in Roxbury. We will not allow this town to become known as ‘the prison town.’”

Residents have also shown up to Roxbury council meetings in numbers to express their opposition to the site.

On a state-level, a trio of bills meant to limit ICE and support immigrants was recently introduced.

The package would tax those profiting from ICE detention centers, limit ICE’s capabilities in New Jersey, and create barriers for ICE agents seeking public employment.

Read More: NJ Lawmakers Look To Ban ICE Agents From Public Employment In New Bill Trio

Additionally, Governor Mikie Sherrill recently signed Executive Order 12, which bans ICE, or any federal immigration agency, from operating on state-owned property without a judicial warrant.

Launching alongside Sherrill’s policy were two new websites: one that allows residents to report potentially unconstitutional behavior from ICE, and another that offers a plethora of resources for Garden State immigrants.

Related: Gov. Sherrill Takes Action To Restrict ICE Operations In NJ

More From Patch:

• ICE Plans To Lease Office Space In Affluent Essex County Suburb, Report Says
• Middlesex Moves To Block ICE From County Property
• Bergen County Town Vows To Protect Residents After ICE Questions Them