Roxbury warehouse to become ICE detention center against town's wishes
The council is concerned over the center’s location in a residential area, the cost to local utilities and lost tax revenue.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement bought a vacant warehouse in Roxbury to serve as an immigration detention center, against the wishes of residents and local leaders.
Dozens of residents and neighbors have taken to the streets to protest and have spoken at recent Roxbury Town Council meetings. Many oppose the ICE facility in town on a humanitarian level. The council is concerned over the center’s location in a residential area, the cost to local utilities and lost tax revenue.
Roxbury’s all-Republican council criticized Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) - saying he “did not engage to the level we had hoped to provide the advocacy our residents deserved.”
Kean responded with a bill on Monday that would provide grant funding for towns like Roxbury to cover the expenses of a federal facility.
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Roxbury officials say they offered 10 years of tax abatements worth $20 million to the property owners. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said the property sold for “tens of millions of dollars.”
The council stated, "It is extremely disappointing that Dalfen Industrial prioritized profits over community, it’s a decision that is not reflective of a good community partner."
Representatives from Dalfen Industrial told News 12 that they are minority owners, and Goldman Sachs is the majority partner. They also stated that the town never offered a tax abatement, adding, "Irrespective of any local position, the government’s intent was to acquire the building, and the decision to sell reflected that reality and the fiduciary obligations owed to investors."
July’s Big Beautiful Bill allocated billions to ICE to purchase detention centers. ICE does not own its other detention centers in Newark and Elizabeth.
“Complaints across the nation - we've seen really bad outcomes and poor conditions and dangerous conditions for people in those facilities," said Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D). "I am opposed to private detention facilities. We're looking at our options now.”
An ICE spokesperson said the former warehouse will be converted into a detention facility that meets the agency's regular standards, and said the facility will bring 1,300 jobs and bring in millions of tax revenue.
Roxbury officials say they heard nothing from the Department of Homeland Security during this process and are prepared to head to court.
