ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — New Jersey officials and Roxbury Township have filed a lawsuit Friday against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security over plans to convert a vacant warehouse into an immigration detention facility.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced the legal action, which seeks to block the federal government from moving forward with the project at a site along Route 46 in Roxbury Township.
State and local officials argue the plan was developed without proper consultation and raises concerns about infrastructure, environmental impact and public safety.
“The safety and well-being of New Jerseyans will always be my top priority, and the Trump Administration’s plans for a detention facility in Roxbury will not make our residents safer. Instead, this facility will overburden local services and infrastructure,” said Governor Sherrill. “These types of facilities also have a long track record of abuse, mistreatment, and unsafe conditions. This is not a partisan issue – Republican leaders in the community are similarly against this facility. That is why we are joining with Roxbury to stop this facility to protect the community and our Constitution.”
“Today, we join efforts to enforce the law and protect the rights of all New Jerseyans,” said Attorney General Davenport. “Federal laws require—and our State and towns deserve—that DHS and ICE consult with the State and the Township on major projects in their backyard. Instead, DHS and ICE are ramming through a secretive purchase and rushed renovation. We will not allow these ill-considered plans to happen. We have partnered with the Township of Roxbury, relying on the Township’s crucial local knowledge and efficiently combining our resources for this important bipartisan fight.”
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges violations of multiple federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Intergovernmental Cooperation Act and Immigration and Nationality Act.
According to the complaint, the warehouse site lacks adequate infrastructure to support a facility that could house up to 1,500 detainees and employ about 1,000 staff. Officials also raised concerns about water and sewage capacity, traffic impacts and proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, including nearby lakes and the Highlands region, which supplies drinking water to much of the state.
Local officials said they were not informed of the project until after the property had already been purchased.
“The Council and I commend the Governor and the Attorney General for their swift and decisive action to help prevent the placement of an ICE detention center within our suburban community,” said Mayor Shawn Potillo. “We remain confident that, through this process, it will be clearly demonstrated that this location is not appropriate for a facility of this nature, given the significant impacts it would have on our residents, local resources, and the surrounding environment. This partnership is also important for Roxbury residents, as the Office of Attorney General can provide significant legal resources that protects Roxbury’s local property taxpayers from shouldering most of this cost alone.”
Officials said the lawsuit aims to halt the project until proper review and consultation processes are completed.
