A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday halting all construction and renovation work on a planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility near Williamsport in western Maryland.
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson granted the order, publicized by Project Salt Box, on Tuesday evening, siding with the State of Maryland in its lawsuit against ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, [former] DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons.
The 14-day order stops any further work at the 825,000-square-foot warehouse just outside Williamsport. The federal government purchased the property for about $102.4 million on Jan. 16, with plans to convert the former industrial space into a detention center capable of holding up to 1,500 detainees.
The state argued that federal officials violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to complete an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment before proceeding. The administration awarded a contractor up to $113 million to renovate the facility. Work was scheduled to run from March 6 through May 4.
Judge Hurson found that the state was likely to succeed on the merits of its claim, noting that the only apparent environmental review was a brief public notice posted on the DHS website stating that the site is located in a floodplain. The renovation contract was awarded the day after that limited comment period closed.
The state has warned that the project threatens three nearby waterways, including Semple Run, Conococheague Creek and the Potomac River, as well as endangered aquatic species in the surrounding area.
Officials have raised concerns about potential sediment runoff, pollution and strain on local infrastructure, including water and sewer systems already deemed inadequate for the facility’s projected needs of roughly 209,000 gallons of water per day and over 187,000 gallons of wastewater.
This development follows original reporting by Project Salt Box, a volunteer watchdog group that first detailed aspects of the federal acquisition, early site activity and related contracts.
The lawsuit stems from broader opposition to the Trump administration’s rapid push to expand immigration detention capacity. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed the initial complaint on Feb. 23, accusing DHS and ICE of conducting the purchase and planning behind closed doors, without public input, state consultation or required environmental reviews under NEPA.
The law requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts for major actions and involve the public when feasible.
Local concerns have centered on the site’s transformation from a minimal-amenity warehouse – originally equipped with just four toilets and two water fountains – into a large-scale residential detention operation.
Hagerstown, the water supplier for the area including Williamsport, has noted that the current 800-gallon-per-day allocation is far below what would be needed, though the city’s treatment plant has substantial overall capacity.
Upgrades to lines and infrastructure would be required, potentially funded by federal dollars, but no formal application had been submitted by early March.
Community and environmental groups have expressed worries about public health risks, traffic impacts and the broader implications of expanding federal detention in the region. Washington County commissioners have voiced economic support for the project, while Hagerstown officials have indicated they could not easily deny services without legal risks.
The case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and state environmental protections. NEPA, enacted in 1969, serves as the nation’s foundational environmental law, mandating consideration of ecological consequences before major federal undertakings.
Defendants must file a status report within 48 hours detailing compliance with the order. The temporary halt provides time for the court to consider a longer preliminary injunction as the litigation continues.
