Friends,
We have a critical opportunity to put more pressure on DHS and help strengthen the fight against the proposed ICE detention center in Washington County.
DHS is currently accepting public comments on its environmental review of the project, but the deadline is July 1.
This is one of the most important moments in our fight so far.
For months, our community has exposed the serious environmental, infrastructure, financial, and human rights concerns surrounding DHS's plan to convert an 825,000-square-foot industrial warehouse in Washington County, Maryland into a massive ICE detention center. Now DHS is legally required to consider public input as part of its environmental review process.
Every comment matters.
We have made it easy to submit a comment through our Action Network campaign:
Submit your public comment here:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-dhs-stop-the-ice-warehouse-in-washington-county
Need help deciding what to write? We also published a blog post outlining ten major concerns about the project that you can use when crafting your comment:
Read the blog post here:
https://blog.hagerstownrapidresponse.com/p/10-reasons-were-opposing-the-proposed-ice-detention-center-in-washington-county-maryland-and-why-you-should-submit-public-comment
This proposed detention center would affect far more than Washington County. The facility sits within the Potomac River watershed, meaning wastewater, stormwater, flooding, and other environmental impacts could affect communities throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
DHS has already admitted that the project requires a formal environmental review. That review will become part of the public record, and public comments submitted now can help shape that process moving forward.
The more comments DHS receives, the harder it becomes to ignore the concerns of Washington County residents and supporters across Maryland, neighboring states, and the country.
Help us increase our impact:
- Share this campaign on Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
- Text the campaign link to friends and family.
- Email the campaign to local organizations and community groups.
- Ask others to submit their own personalized public comment.
Every unique comment strengthens the public record.
Thank you for standing with Hagerstown Rapid Response, Washington County Indivisible, and our partners in opposition to the proposed ICE detention warehouse in Washington County, Maryland.
In solidarity,
Hagerstown Rapid Response
Washington County Indivisible