Trump administration tells New Jersey it will pursue ICE detention center in Roxbury

The Trump administration has told New Jersey it will go ahead with plans to turn a 470,000-square-foot warehouse on Route 46 in Roxbury Township into an immigration detention center ¹³. Most work at the site has been on hold for months under a federal court order ¹².

The news came out in a status report the state filed in federal court on Nov. 6. The filing points to a report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had signed a $31.8 million contract with a private company to convert the building, reportedly on Nov. 5 ¹³. DHS runs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency that arrests and detains immigrants.

New Jersey's lawyers called DHS as soon as they saw the report. The department's lawyer could not confirm that a contract had been signed. According to the filing from state Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, though, the lawyer told the state "for the first time that DHS had decided to proceed" with a detention facility at the site ¹².

The watchdog group Project Salt Box reported that the contract went to SK2 LLC. New Jersey 101.5 reports that the company helped DHS acquire the building under Secretary Kristi Noem ².

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What the court order says

DHS closed on the $129.3 million purchase on Feb. 19 ⁴⁵. The warehouse was bought to process immigrants arrested in President Trump's mass deportation raids. Planning documents said it could hold as many as 1,500 people, a number officials later cut to fewer than 550 ¹. New Jersey sued in March, and Roxbury Township joined the lawsuit ¹.

Under a May 12 court order, DHS generally cannot convert the site until it finishes an environmental assessment and the state has a chance to challenge the results ¹³. That review is required by the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA. Until it is done, ICE was allowed to do only basic maintenance on the property ².

Deputy Solicitor General Shankar Duraiswamy wrote that a signed contract would "raise significant concerns" about whether DHS is following the order ¹. DHS's lawyer told the state that "money has been obligated for maintenance, design of ICE's preferred alternative, and the NEPA analysis of that design" ². A spokesperson for the attorney general's office said the state "will take action" if it finds the order is being violated ³.

Enough is enough,

Changing stories from DHS

DHS has changed its position several times since May. On June 29 it said it would not move forward with the Roxbury site. On July 11 it reversed itself ³. Officials later said no decision had been made and no timetable existed ¹.

Officials have also had to explain how the site was used in September. ICE acknowledged that its Newark field office brought nine immigrants to the warehouse after a raid in Dover. Four days later, agents processed five more people arrested in Dover and Ledgewood in the parking lot ¹. That stopped after the field office director told staff the property could not be used for enforcement, and DHS says it no longer uses the site ¹. The state attorney general's office is investigating those incidents ¹.

Roxbury's township attorney, Anthony Bucco, said Justice Department officials acknowledged that detainees were "processed in the parking lot" on two occasions but "did not go in" ³.

Once again, ICE is demonstrating its utter contempt for the rule of law.

The cost to a small town

About 23,000 people live in Roxbury. Local officials estimate the township, county and school district could lose about $1.8 million a year in property tax revenue now that the federal government owns the building. Over 30 years, that adds up to roughly $85 million ⁴. Before the sale, the township had offered the former owner a 10-year, $20 million tax break to keep the property ⁵.

Township officials also say a detention center would strain the town's water, sewer and police resources ³⁴. The police department has already set aside about $20,000 to cover the facility's demands on its 42-member force ⁵. ICE has said building the facility would create 1,300 jobs and generate $39.2 million in tax revenue ⁵.

Opposition here crosses party lines. The all-Republican Roxbury Township Council passed a resolution against using the warehouse for detention ³⁴. DHS declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit ³.

Democrats and residents push back

Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat who won the 7th District House seat and takes office in January, said on Facebook that she will keep fighting the plan ².

As your congresswoman, I will work with Governor Sherrill, members of the New Jersey delegation, and local leaders to fight back against this unwanted detention center,

In May, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Attorney General Davenport and Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo released a joint statement saying the facility "will harm the community and won't do anything to make us safer." They promised to go back to court if needed ⁶. When the purchase first became public in February, Sen. Andy Kim said private detention centers have no place in the state ⁴.

From Roxbury to Newark, private detention centers have no place in New Jersey

The No ICE in North Jersey Alliance, known as Project NINJA, plans a rally at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Rockaway Mall ¹.

The pattern is clear. In six months, DHS has said yes, no, maybe and now yes again about Roxbury. Meanwhile, the main things holding the project back are a court order and an environmental review that has not been finished. If a $31.8 million contract was in fact signed while that order was in force, the state's lawyers have already indicated they will take the question to a judge ¹³.

The Record

1. Feb 19, 2026DHS closes its $129.3 million purchase of the 470,000-square-foot Roxbury warehouse ⁴⁵
2. May 12, 2026Court order generally bars DHS from converting the site until an environmental assessment is complete; Gov. Sherrill, the attorney general and Roxbury's mayor issue a joint statement ¹⁶
3. Jul 11, 2026DHS reverses its June 29 statement that it would not proceed with the Roxbury site ³
4. Nov 6, 2026New Jersey's court filing reports a $31.8 million conversion contract and says DHS has decided to pursue the detention center ¹²³

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<h2>Trump administration tells New Jersey it will pursue ICE detention center in Roxbury</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-administration-tells-new-jersey-it-will-pursue-ice-detention-center-in-roxbury">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.</em></p> <p>The Trump administration has told New Jersey it will go ahead with plans to turn a 470,000-square-foot warehouse on Route 46 in Roxbury Township into an immigration detention center . Most work at the site has been on hold for months under a federal court order .</p> <p>The news came out in a status report the state filed in federal court on Nov. 6. The filing points to a report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had signed a $31.8 million contract with a private company to convert the building, reportedly on Nov. 5 . DHS runs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency that arrests and detains immigrants.</p> <p>New Jersey&#39;s lawyers called DHS as soon as they saw the report. The department&#39;s lawyer could not confirm that a contract had been signed. According to the filing from state Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, though, the lawyer told the state &quot;for the first time that DHS had decided to proceed&quot; with a detention facility at the site .</p> <p>The watchdog group Project Salt Box reported that the contract went to SK2 LLC. New Jersey 101.5 reports that the company helped DHS acquire the building under Secretary Kristi Noem .</p> <h2>What the court order says</h2> <p>DHS closed on the $129.3 million purchase on Feb. 19 . The warehouse was bought to process immigrants arrested in President Trump&#39;s mass deportation raids. Planning documents said it could hold as many as 1,500 people, a number officials later cut to fewer than 550 . New Jersey sued in March, and Roxbury Township joined the lawsuit .</p> <p>Under a May 12 court order, DHS generally cannot convert the site until it finishes an environmental assessment and the state has a chance to challenge the results . That review is required by the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA. Until it is done, ICE was allowed to do only basic maintenance on the property .</p> <p>Deputy Solicitor General Shankar Duraiswamy wrote that a signed contract would &quot;raise significant concerns&quot; about whether DHS is following the order . DHS&#39;s lawyer told the state that &quot;money has been obligated for maintenance, design of ICE&#39;s preferred alternative, and the NEPA analysis of that design&quot; . A spokesperson for the attorney general&#39;s office said the state &quot;will take action&quot; if it finds the order is being violated .</p> <blockquote><p>Enough is enough,</p><p>&mdash; Birdie Green, co-founder, No ICE in North Jersey Alliance (Project NINJA)</p></blockquote> <h2>Changing stories from DHS</h2> <p>DHS has changed its position several times since May. On June 29 it said it would not move forward with the Roxbury site. On July 11 it reversed itself . Officials later said no decision had been made and no timetable existed .</p> <p>Officials have also had to explain how the site was used in September. ICE acknowledged that its Newark field office brought nine immigrants to the warehouse after a raid in Dover. Four days later, agents processed five more people arrested in Dover and Ledgewood in the parking lot . That stopped after the field office director told staff the property could not be used for enforcement, and DHS says it no longer uses the site . The state attorney general&#39;s office is investigating those incidents .</p> <p>Roxbury&#39;s township attorney, Anthony Bucco, said Justice Department officials acknowledged that detainees were &quot;processed in the parking lot&quot; on two occasions but &quot;did not go in&quot; .</p> <blockquote><p>Once again, ICE is demonstrating its utter contempt for the rule of law.</p><p>&mdash; David Broderick, legal adviser, Project NINJA</p></blockquote> <h2>The cost to a small town</h2> <p>About 23,000 people live in Roxbury. Local officials estimate the township, county and school district could lose about $1.8 million a year in property tax revenue now that the federal government owns the building. Over 30 years, that adds up to roughly $85 million . Before the sale, the township had offered the former owner a 10-year, $20 million tax break to keep the property .</p> <p>Township officials also say a detention center would strain the town&#39;s water, sewer and police resources . The police department has already set aside about $20,000 to cover the facility&#39;s demands on its 42-member force . ICE has said building the facility would create 1,300 jobs and generate $39.2 million in tax revenue .</p> <p>Opposition here crosses party lines. The all-Republican Roxbury Township Council passed a resolution against using the warehouse for detention . DHS declined to comment, citing the pending lawsuit .</p> <h2>Democrats and residents push back</h2> <p>Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat who won the 7th District House seat and takes office in January, said on Facebook that she will keep fighting the plan .</p> <blockquote><p>As your congresswoman, I will work with Governor Sherrill, members of the New Jersey delegation, and local leaders to fight back against this unwanted detention center,</p><p>&mdash; Rebecca Bennett, Rep.-elect, D-N.J., 7th District</p></blockquote> <p>In May, Gov. Mikie Sherrill, Attorney General Davenport and Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo released a joint statement saying the facility &quot;will harm the community and won&#39;t do anything to make us safer.&quot; They promised to go back to court if needed . When the purchase first became public in February, Sen. Andy Kim said private detention centers have no place in the state .</p> <blockquote><p>From Roxbury to Newark, private detention centers have no place in New Jersey</p><p>&mdash; Andy Kim, U.S. senator, D-N.J.</p></blockquote> <p>The No ICE in North Jersey Alliance, known as Project NINJA, plans a rally at noon on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Rockaway Mall .</p> <p>The pattern is clear. In six months, DHS has said yes, no, maybe and now yes again about Roxbury. Meanwhile, the main things holding the project back are a court order and an environmental review that has not been finished. If a $31.8 million contract was in fact signed while that order was in force, the state&#39;s lawyers have already indicated they will take the question to a judge .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-administration-tells-new-jersey-it-will-pursue-ice-detention-center-in-roxbury">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-administration-tells-new-jersey-it-will-pursue-ice-detention-center-in-roxbury.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Jersey Vindicator, “Activists plan rally over revived Roxbury ICE detention plan” (2026-11-10). jerseyvindicator.org/2026/11/10/activists-plan-rally-over-re
2. New Jersey 101.5, “Thought the Roxbury ICE detention center was on hold? Think again” (2026-11-10). nj1015.com/ice-detention-facility-roxbury-contract/
3. NorthJersey.com (via Yahoo News), “New court filing shows $31.8M plan for Roxbury ICE detention center” (2026-11-07). yahoo.com/news/us/articles/court-filing-shows-31-8m-18371592
4. The Jersey Vindicator, “U.S. paid $129.3 million for New Jersey warehouse for large-scale immigrant detention center” (2026-02-26). jerseyvindicator.org/?p=17068
5. NJ.com (via Yahoo News), “ICE spent $129.3 million to buy a N.J. warehouse that it plans to turn into an immigration detention center” (2026-02-27). yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-spent-129-3-million-215115849.ht
6. InsiderNJ, “Joint Statement from Governor Mikie Sherrill, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, and Roxbury Mayor Shawn Potillo on Agreement With DHS on Proposed ICE Detention Facility” (2026-05-12). insidernj.com/press-release/joint-statement-from-governor-mi

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