ROXBURY TOWNSHIP (WABC) — A big push is now underway to try to stop the Trump Administration from converting a warehouse in New Jersey into a new ICE detention center.
Governor Mikie Sherrill, with no hesitation, strongly protested a new facility in Roxbury that residents are against.
The governor said she worries about the community’s infrastructure and public safety, making a reference to the violence in some ICE activities.
“We gotta be human. It’s not about legal status. It’s about being human,” one resident said.
Hundreds of people have been showing up to meetings, rallying in Roxbury Township.
The majority of voices who are speaking out do not want to see the 470,000 square foot warehouse become an ICE detention facility with the capacity to hold up to 1,500 detainees.
Senator Andy Kim has been at the forefront of the fight, visiting the site, which had already been purchased by DHS and meeting with local officials about their concerns.
“This is a warehouse that is the size of over 8 football fields and it’s right in the middle of a residential area. Look, Roxbury is a town that voted Trump, it’s a republican leadership and they don’t want it there,” Kim said.
Governor Sherrill took her concerns directly to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
The governor sent a two-page letter of issues, saying in so many words that DHS has not been transparent or forthcoming in outlining its plans for the site.
Local concerns include impact on the environment, traffic, safety, and the use of municipal resources.
The governor also expressed concerns about the safety, welfare, and rights of those who would be held.
The governor says the state will use every option it has to protect the citizens of Roxbury.
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