Hyattsville residents learned about a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement office not through direct outreach from federal officials, but through news reports and community alerts.

That is not how decisions that affect entire neighborhoods should be made.

The proposed ICE site on Belcrest Road sits blocks from a church and in the same building as a Social Services Office serving families and children. Yet local leaders say they have not received clear information about whether the facility will be administrative or enforcement-based, whether it will include holding space, or what its operational footprint will look like.

Community members deserve answers before doors open.

This petition calls on the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide full, public transparency about the proposed Hyattsville facility. That includes:

• A detailed explanation of the facility’s purpose and scope
• Confirmation of whether enforcement activities or holding cells will be present
• The expected staffing levels and operational hours
• The projected impact on surrounding community services

Hyattsville is a sanctuary city. Prince George’s County leadership has established limits on cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE. Federal agencies should respect local governance decisions and ensure that their operations do not undermine policies adopted by the communities they operate within.

Local autonomy matters.

Even those who support immigration enforcement deserve clarity about what is being built in their neighborhoods. And those who have concerns deserve the chance to engage in meaningful public dialogue before federal expansion proceeds.

Transparency is not obstruction. Consultation is not resistance. They are foundational principles of accountable government.

Sign this petition to demand full public disclosure and respect for local governance before any ICE facility opens in Hyattsville.