ICE Activity Expands in Maryland as Elkridge Plan Pivots and Hagerstown Moves Forward

By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews

Maryland’s immigration enforcement debate intensified this week as new federal notices, contract filings, and political pushback converged around two major projects: the proposed ICE processing facility in Washington County and the blocked detention center in Elkridge that may now become a Baltimore field office.

While Democratic officials including April McClain Delaney are mobilizing opposition, many residents in Western Maryland appear to be taking a different view.

Washington County: Processing Center Advances

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a formal public notice under Executive Order 11988 regarding ICE’s proposal to acquire and retrofit the warehouse at 10900 Hopewell Road in Hagerstown as a Detention Processing Center.

Key facts from the federal notice:

• 830,397-square-foot warehouse built in 2022
• Located on 53.74 acres of previously developed industrial land
• Approximately 38 acres would be enclosed with perimeter fencing
• Limited site disturbance confined to already developed areas
• Facility would provide short-term housing for individuals awaiting immigration processing

Contrary to claims circulating online, federal floodplain review documents show only 1.3 acres of the parcel fall within a 0.2-percent annual chance floodplain (shaded Zone X), and that portion does not affect the existing structure or planned improvements. ICE states the proposal does not change drainage patterns, increase impervious surface, or expand beyond existing site boundaries.

The agency also outlined mitigation steps, including maintaining finished-floor elevation above base flood elevation and avoiding encroachment into mapped flood zones.

Public comments are being accepted through March 5 via DHS.

Local Reaction: Not the Narrative Some Expected

A rally opposing the Washington County project drew attention this week. However, local reporting indicated many protestors were transported from outside the county rather than being residents of Hagerstown or Washington County.

Meanwhile, the response online to Rep. McClain Delaney’s call to oppose the facility told a different story: numerous commenters expressed support for the Hagerstown center and frustration with what they view as federal obstructionism by Maryland Democrats.

Western Maryland has historically leaned more conservative than the I-95 corridor, and many residents argue the site — an industrial warehouse in a developed park — is far removed from schools or dense residential neighborhoods.

Elkridge: Detention Blocked, Office Possible

In Howard County, the situation is more complex.

The property at 6522 Meadowridge Road in Elkridge was originally being renovated into a private immigration detention facility. After more than a dozen inspections and mounting community opposition, County Executive Calvin Ball revoked the building permit in early February. The Howard County Council then passed emergency legislation banning private immigration detention centers.

However, recent federal contract solicitations suggest ICE may pivot the site into a Baltimore field office rather than a detention center. If so, that would likely sidestep the county’s detention-specific prohibition while preserving the federal government’s operational footprint.

ICE’s current Baltimore field office remains at Hopkins Plaza downtown, but documents suggest a possible relocation in May.

The Elkridge pivot illustrates a broader tension: Maryland’s local governments can regulate zoning and private detention operations, but they cannot prohibit federal law enforcement presence outright.

The Political Divide

Maryland Democrats, including Chris Van Hollen and others, have aligned with local officials seeking to block detention expansion. The state House has also advanced legislation restricting zoning approvals for such facilities.

Republican voices counter that Maryland cannot simultaneously criticize federal immigration enforcement while demanding federal resources for border management.

In Washington County, critics argue the proposed Hagerstown site represents a modern, industrial, already-developed property — not a greenfield construction project — and that opposition is largely political rather than logistical.

What Happens Next?

Three timelines now matter:

1. Public comment deadline: March 5 for the Hagerstown floodplain review.
2. State Senate consideration: Pending legislation restricting detention facilities statewide.
3. ICE contract decisions: Whether Elkridge formally becomes a Baltimore field office.

For now, the Washington County proposal remains active, the Elkridge detention center is halted, and Maryland’s immigration debate is moving from quiet permitting processes to open political confrontation.

As Maryland navigates the balance between federal enforcement authority and local governance, the divide between Annapolis and Western Maryland may only grow sharper.

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