The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed a federal court’s decision ordering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily halt work on a proposed immigration detention facility in Washington County, and is calling for the project to be permanently abandoned.
SEE: Federal court grants order to pause work on proposed Maryland ICE detention facility
The order comes amid a legal challenge filed by Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE over plans to convert a large warehouse near Williamsport into a massive immigration detention center. The proposed facility could hold up to 1,500 detainees in a small community of roughly 2,000 residents.
Maryland’s lawsuit argues that federal officials moved forward with the project without conducting the environmental review and public consultation required under federal law, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A federal judge has now issued a temporary order pausing work on the facility while the court considers the broader legal challenge.
CAIR welcoming the ruling as an important step toward accountability and transparency, but emphasized that the project should not proceed at all.
“The court’s decision represents a meaningful step toward greater transparency and accountability,” said CAIR’s Maryland Advisory Board Member and Washington County resident Dr. Abdul Waheed. “Federal agencies should not be permitted to move forward with projects that significantly impact Maryland communities while bypassing environmental protections, legal safeguards, and the voices of the public. A detention facility of this scale raises serious concerns related to humanitarian standards, civil rights, and due process. Although the court’s order temporarily halts construction, it is critical that federal authorities take the next step and permanently abandon plans for this facility. Instead, policymakers should pursue approaches that uphold human dignity, protect civil liberties, and reflect the fundamental principles of fairness and justice.”
The proposed facility has drawn significant concern from residents, civil rights organizations, and public officials who say the project advanced without meaningful engagement with local communities or state authorities.
CAIR previously applauded Attorney General Brown’s lawsuit seeking to stop the project and ensure compliance with federal law. The organization reiterated that large-scale immigration detention expansion raises broader questions about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of vulnerable communities.
SEE: CAIR Md. Applauds Maryland Attorney General’s Lawsuit to Stop Unlawful ICE Detention Facility
The civil rights group thanked community members and advocacy groups in Western Maryland who have organized for months to bring attention to the issue and demand transparency.
The court’s order temporarily stops work on the proposed detention center while litigation proceeds.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062(tel:410-971-6062); CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530(tel:404-285-9530), e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 (tel:202-744-7726), ihooper@cair.com