$100M Trump detention facility hit with block as judge finds DHS likely broke the law
A federal judge in Maryland on Wednesday halted construction on a Trump administration immigration detention facility, ruling that officials likely violated federal environmental law by rushing the project forward without proper review.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson granted Maryland's request for a temporary restraining order, blocking renovation of a warehouse in Williamsport for two weeks while the case proceeds. The order was signed at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The judge found that the Department of Homeland Security likely failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts before undertaking major construction projects. The court found DHS had not completed either a required environmental impact statement or a basic environmental assessment before work began.
The state of Maryland sued ICE, DHS, and former Secretary Kristi Noem after the federal government paid $102.4 million for the Williamsport warehouse and awarded a $100 million-plus renovation contract to KVG LLC with a start date of March 6, just a day after a public comment period closed. The facility was slated to house 1,500 detainees. State environmental officials warned the existing infrastructure was dangerously insufficient, with sewage overflow posing public health risks to three nearby waterways, including the Potomac River.
"Construction at the scale necessary to convert the warehouse into an immigration detention facility without the necessary environmental reviews poses a serious risk to the nearby watersheds and the ecosystems therein," Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said in a declaration filed with the court.
"The Court therefore agrees that continued renovation and construction at and around the Williamsport Warehouse will likely cause the State to suffer irreparable harm through injury to the State's environment," the judge wrote.
The internet cheered as the Trump administration suffered another loss.
Alexis Goldstein, candidate for the U.S. House in Maryland’s 6th district, cheered, "Fantastic news! This will block current work on the ICE detention center DHS wants to build in Hagerstown, MD. One thing I’ve learned from the CFPB fight: even if we win in court, we have to keep fighting on the Hill & in the streets!"
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, wrote on Bluesky, "HUGE."
Journalist Marisa Kabas wrote on Bluesky, "hell yea!!!"
Democrat Mark Bechtel cheered on Bluesky, "Awesome."
Novelist Jeri Smith-Ready added, "YES!"
Lisa Scheid, managing editor of Spotlight PA Berks Bureau, warned the ruling could have "implications for PA."