Washington County Commissioners to Pledge Cooperation With ICE on Facility They Say Bypassed Them
Resolution commits commissioners to support federal operations one month after warehouse purchase
Washington County commissioners will vote Tuesday on a resolution expressing support for federal immigration enforcement — including a detention facility they say they were never consulted about before the government purchased a warehouse in their jurisdiction last month.
The resolution commits elected officials to “not use their positions as elected office holders to oppose or hinder” the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in carrying out their duties.
The language represents a reversal from the county’s initial response. When the $102.4 million purchase of the warehouse at 16220 Wright Road became public in January, officials said they had not been notified and were powerless to intervene because of federal authority.
Now they are preparing to formalize that position into policy.
From Powerless to Pledging Support
The resolution declares the commissioners’ “unwavering support and commitment” to DHS and ICE, and encourages cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies.
It does not mention the detention facility specifically, instead framing the vote as general support for border security and law enforcement.
The timing — one month after the warehouse purchase became public and amid ongoing local opposition — raises questions about whether the resolution is connected to the facility and the resistance it has generated.
Washington County Indivisible has organized multiple protests. A procedural challenge has been filed alleging the government used an incorrect address during historic preservation review, potentially invalidating the approval process. Representative April McClain Delaney, a Maryland Democrat, has called the project a “cloak of darkness” operation carried out without transparency or community input.
The commissioners will vote at a meeting where public comment remains suspended — a policy the county implemented after disruptive behavior by a local resident during public meetings.
A Costly Conversion
The resolution emphasizes public safety and the rule of law but makes no reference to the facility’s cost or economic impact.
Last year, the warehouse generated more than $300,000 in combined state and local property tax revenue as a privately owned commercial logistics warehouse.
The conversion to federal use would eliminate that revenue. Federal facilities are generally exempt from local property taxes.
An investigation by Project Salt Box found that operating costs for detention facilities of this scale can be substantial. Industry experts estimate that even bare-minimum temporary facilities cost approximately $200 per person per day. For the planned 1,500-bed facility in Hagerstown, that would total $300,000 daily, or about $110 million annually.
The warehouse was allocated only six Equivalent Dwelling Units for water — suitable for a logistics operation but far short of what would be required for 1,500 people.
The Timeline
In a statement last month, Washington County’s Board of Commissioners said they did not receive DHS’s consultation letter until Jan. 14 — two days after ICE had documented the county’s lack of response in internal reports. The deed was recorded Jan. 16, nearly a week before the county formally acknowledged the project.
By the time officials and residents learned about the facility, the required federal consultation process had been completed.
The legal challenge filed with the Maryland Historical Trust contends that DHS used 10900 Hopewell Road in its review, while the deed listed the property as 16220 Wright Road — different parcels with different historic designations. The objection argues that the address discrepancy invalidated the review and circumvented the public consultation process federal law requires.
Rather than joining or supporting that challenge, commissioners are preparing to pledge they will not oppose the agency that some residents say bypassed them.
What the Resolution Requires
The resolution commits commissioners to express full support for DHS, ICE and local law enforcement, and to encourage cooperation between federal and local agencies in enforcing immigration law.
It states that all people will be treated “with dignity and compassion” within the county’s jurisdiction, though it does not explain how commissioners will ensure that standard at a facility over which they say they have no authority.
The resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption and will be sent to DHS, ICE and local law enforcement agencies.
All five commissioners — President John F. Barr, Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline, and Commissioners Derek Harvey, Randal A. Leatherman and Randall E. Wagner — are listed as sponsors.
None responded to requests for comment.
Limited Avenues for Input
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the County Administration Building. Public comment remains suspended.
“They’re just throwing up their hands,” Dave Williams, one of the lead members of Washington County Indivisible, said in an interview last month. “It’s what I call ‘obeying in advance’ — they aren’t even trying to make an effort.”
The vote Tuesday would formalize that approach.
Creating a prison out of a warehouse would seem to be leading directly to a humanitarian crisis. No wonder they don’t want anyone to have input or submit to governance. These people are monsters.
A real fucking shocker.
Shutting out the public becuase you couldnt handle your job (which is a PUBLIC service job) is just so- well its exactly how this country runs.