Maryland Anthony G. Brown filed an emergency motion asking a federal court to halt construction of a planned immigration detention facility near Williamsport, arguing the project is moving forward without required environmental review.
The request comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a construction contract on March 6 to renovate a warehouse into a large immigration detention center. The motion asks the court to pause construction for up to 14 days while the state’s broader legal challenge is considered.
Brown previously filed a lawsuit on February 23 challenging the federal government’s purchase and planned conversion of the warehouse, arguing the project was approved without the environmental review, public input, or state consultation required under federal law. The state contends that construction could cause environmental damage and that the project is proceeding too quickly without proper oversight.
According to the filing, the warehouse sits next to Semple Run, a stream that flows into the Conococheague Creek and eventually the Potomac River. State officials say construction could lead to sediment runoff and pollution that may affect waterways that support protected and endangered species, and they argue the existing sewer and water infrastructure may be insufficient for a facility of that size. The emergency motion asks the court to pause the project while the lawsuit is reviewed.
