Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced on Mar. 20 that New Jersey and the Township of Roxbury have filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to stop plans for converting a vacant warehouse into an immigration detention center.
The legal action seeks to address concerns about public safety, environmental impact, and lack of consultation with state and local officials regarding the proposed facility. The lawsuit requests that the U.S. District Court halt federal efforts to establish what plaintiffs describe as a mass detention site in Roxbury.
Sherrill said, “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. 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.”
Davenport said, “Today, we join efforts to enforce the law and protect the rights of all New Jerseyans. 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.”
Mayor Shawn Potillo added support from local government: “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. 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.”
According to court filings described in today’s announcement, state officials argue that ICE did not properly consider water supply limitations or sewage capacity at 1879 Route 46 before planning for up to 1,500 detainees plus staff at a site currently lacking adequate infrastructure. Officials say increased wastewater could overwhelm existing systems—potentially affecting nearby lakes such as Lake Musconetcong—and strain drinking water supplies in an area designated by lawmakers as environmentally sensitive.
Traffic safety concerns were also raised due to anticipated increases in vehicle volume near Interstate 80; officials estimate hundreds more vehicles during rush hour if operations proceed as planned without detailed traffic studies from federal agencies.
Financial impacts include potential loss of $1.8 million annually in tax revenue due to diverted development opportunities while emergency response resources could be stretched thin by new demands from such a large-scale operation.
According to the official website, the New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims to protect residents’ lives and property while upholding legal standards statewide; its authority extends across all counties according to the same source. The office influences public safety through enforcement oversight according to its mandate, holds statutory power over prosecution matters as outlined online, provides victim advocacy services according to its website, offers consumer protection initiatives as stated officially, functions as an agency focused on justice across New Jersey according to its description.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement actions and state-level oversight responsibilities.
