Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the federal government’s plan to convert a large warehouse near Williamsport in Washington County into an immigration detention center.
The lawsuit challenges the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s purchase of the 54-acre property in January 2026 for $102.4 million, arguing that the acquisition and planned conversion were carried out without required environmental reviews, public input, or consultation with state authorities. According to state officials, the facility, which contains more than 825,000 square feet of warehouse space, is intended to house up to 1,500 detainees, a number close to the population of the surrounding town. Governor Wes Moore and Attorney General Brown have stated that the project was approved without transparency and without following established federal procedures.
The lawsuit alleges that federal agencies violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by moving forward without assessing environmental impacts, considering alternatives, or explaining their decision-making process. State officials also cited broader concerns about detention conditions nationwide and questioned whether a former commercial warehouse is suitable for housing detainees. The complaint further argues that the project could affect local waterways, air quality, traffic, and public health, and that residents were denied an opportunity to participate in the process. Through the lawsuit, Maryland is seeking to require federal agencies to comply with environmental and administrative laws and to pause or reconsider the project until those requirements are met.
