For the residents of Hanover County, the idea of our community becoming a place where individuals can be arrested and held without oversight, regulation, or due process is deeply troubling.  I have witnessed the values of respect, dignity, and justice that define us. It is these values that urge us to stand united against the proposal of establishing immigration detention centers in our county. We want to invest in housing, education, economic opportunity, and community safety; not detention facilities that create fear, destabilize neighborhoods, and disproportionately harm immigrant families.

An ICE detention center is not just a land-use decision; it is a public safety and community trust issue. Across the country, the expansion of immigration enforcement facilities has been associated with heightened fear, family separation, and destabilization of neighborhoods. Recent events in Minnesota have shown how the presence of aggressive immigration enforcement can escalate into violence, undermining public peace and putting both residents and workers at risk. Communities are safest when trust exists between residents and institutions — not when fear and militarized enforcement become part of daily life.

Hanover County is a beautiful, vibrant, peaceful community that believes in fair treatment for all. Transforming it into a hub for immigration detention centers contradicts the community's values and poses numerous risks. From potential economic burdens on local resources to the social safety implications of hosting such facilities, the harm to our community is undeniable.

By banning immigration detention centers, we not only protect the integrity and security of Hanover County but also set a precedent as a community committed to human rights and justice. This ban would reaffirm our identity as a community that values every individual’s rights and freedoms.

Join me in urging our local government to pass an ordinance that prohibits the establishment of any immigration detention centers in Hanover County. Let our voices echo the values we cherish and protect the community we love. Please sign this petition to take a stand against detention centers and for a just and humane community.