Why It Matters
A federal judge in Maryland has extended a temporary block on construction work at a Washington County immigration detention facility, preventing the Trump administration from moving forward with plans to convert a Williamsport warehouse into a 1,500-bed facility. The order delays the project and gives Maryland’s legal challenge additional time to proceed, affecting both federal immigration enforcement operations and a rural Maryland community. The case centers on whether federal officials followed required environmental review procedures before purchasing the 825,000-square-foot facility near sensitive watershed areas that feed into the Potomac River.
What Happened
U.S. District Court Judge Brendan Hurson extended a temporary restraining order on Thursday, March 20, 2026, blocking Immigration and Customs Enforcement from proceeding with renovation and construction work on the Washington County warehouse. The extension maintains the prior order Hurson issued on March 11 and provides an additional four-week window for the judge to hear arguments from attorneys representing both Maryland and the federal government before issuing a final ruling by April 16.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown filed a request for a preliminary injunction Thursday, asking the court to stop the Trump administration’s work on the facility while litigation continues. Brown had filed the original lawsuit against ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in February, alleging the agencies violated federal law by purchasing the warehouse without conducting required environmental impact assessments.
According to the lawsuit, ICE purchased the warehouse in January and has proceeded with project planning at an accelerated pace. On March 15, ICE awarded a $113 million contract to KVG LLC, a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania-based contractor, to immediately begin retrofitting the facility. The contract triggered the emergency court order from Judge Hurson, who issued the restraining order a day after Brown filed the lawsuit and requested access to federal documents related to the project.
The warehouse, located near Williamsport—a town with approximately 2,000 residents—sits in close proximity to Sample Run, a tributary of Conocoheague Creek. That watershed eventually feeds into the Potomac River. Maryland’s lawsuit claims the facility would threaten several state-designated endangered species that inhabit the area.
By the Numbers
- 1,500 beds: Proposed capacity of the immigration detention facility at full operation
- 825,000 square feet: Size of the Williamsport warehouse ICE purchased
- $113 million: Value of the federal contract awarded to KVG LLC for facility retrofitting
- 2,000 residents: Population of Williamsport, the nearest town to the proposed facility
- Four weeks: Duration of the extended temporary restraining order, with a final ruling deadline of April 16
Zoom Out
The Maryland detention center case reflects broader national tensions over immigration enforcement infrastructure expansion under the Trump administration. Federal immigration agencies have pursued detention facility projects across multiple states, while legal challenges from state attorneys general and advocacy groups have become increasingly common.
Similar disputes have emerged in other states regarding detention center locations, particularly when proposed facilities would be situated near environmentally sensitive areas or in communities where local officials object to the projects. Environmental review requirements under federal law have become a central battleground in these disputes, with states arguing that federal immigration agencies have circumvented mandatory procedures.
Maryland’s challenge differs from some other state-level opposition in its emphasis on environmental protections rather than solely immigration policy disagreements. The state’s focus on endangered species and water quality provides a legal framework distinct from general policy objections, potentially offering a different pathway through federal courts.
What’s Next
Judge Hurson will hear arguments from Maryland’s legal team and federal government attorneys over the next four weeks regarding the preliminary injunction request. The hearing will determine whether the temporary restraining order becomes a longer-term preliminary injunction that would remain in place throughout the litigation.
The judge must issue a final ruling on the preliminary injunction by April 16. If granted, Maryland’s request would block all renovation and construction work on the facility while the broader lawsuit proceeds. If denied, ICE could resume work and accelerate the retrofit project using the awarded contract.
The case will also involve discovery disputes, with Maryland seeking access to federal documents related to the project planning and decision-making process. These documents may reveal whether ICE conducted any environmental assessments before purchasing the warehouse or coordinated with state and local officials, as required by federal law.