NJ thought this ICE detention center was dead — now the Trump administration wants it back

✅A Roxbury warehouse could still be converted into an ICE detention center

✅New Jersey officials say their lawsuit still blocks the project

✅The proposed facility would hold up to 1,500 detainees if the project moves forward.

ROXBURY — The on-again, off-again plan to turn a Morris County warehouse into an ICE detention facility is back on.

In a federal court filing on June 29 in response to a lawsuit by the state of New Jersey, the Department of Homeland Security said it was dropping plans to convert the warehouse on Route 46 in Roxbury. On Friday, however, the agency filed a notice with the court revealing that the plans aren't dead.

"On July 8, DHS officials informed counsel that upon reconsideration, the agency intends to move forward with plans to reconsider the retrofitting of the Roxbury Township warehouse for use as a detention facility," the notice first reported by NJ.com states. "DHS officials further informed counsel that as of July 10, agency deliberations remain ongoing. Counsel for Plaintiffs and Defendants continue to confer and will submit a joint status report on July 17."

The notice did not disclose a reason for the change of heart.

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Roxbury warehouse bought by ICE for detention center -

The project's future

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who called the initial ruling a "major victory for the state and the township of Roxbury," did not take the latest notice at face value.

“Let’s be clear, the facility is not moving forward now because of the governor’s and [state] attorney general’s bipartisan lawsuit, no matter how many contradictory court filings from the Trump administration," spokesman Steve Sigmund said.

The state Attorney General's Office also did not think the plan would move forward.

"Thanks to the actions of Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, our bipartisan lawsuit means this unlawful facility is not moving forward now absent an environmental assessment. We will continue whatever efforts we need to in court," the office said.

The notice also backs a social media message from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin after the joint report was filed that the plan was still a go.

"DHS will never back down. We will be keeping this site for a detention center," Mullin said.

The warehouse plan would call for up to 1,500 detainees. The plan was part of an aggressive expansion plan under then-Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem. The warehouse was purchased for $130 million, one of 11 facilities that Noem signed for. Both Democrats and Republicans from Morris County have opposed the plan, citing a lack of infrastructure to handle the sewage and power needs of the facility.

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