Governor Sherrill challenges Noem over proposed ICE facility in Roxbury Township
TRENTON, NJ: Governor Mikie Sherrill officially voiced her strong opposition to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem regarding plans for a massive immigration detention facility in Roxbury Township.
In a letter sent Friday, February 27, Sherrill denounced the conversion of a 470,000-square-foot industrial warehouse into an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hub as "unacceptable."
The Governor slammed the federal government’s "inexcusable" lack of communication, noting that local officials only discovered the plan through a newspaper article.
Sherrill warned Secretary Noem that New Jersey will utilize "every tool at our disposal" to protect the residential community from the projected strain on infrastructure and public services.
Federal secrecy and community exclusion
Today, I voiced my opposition directly to @Sec_Noem regarding DHS’s plan for an ICE facility in Roxbury.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) February 27, 2026
The lack of transparency, projected strain on our community, and inhumane conditions in these detention facilities are unacceptable.
We will use every tool at our disposal… pic.twitter.com/VpXCy6pMll
Governor Sherrill described the DHS’s failure to engage with Roxbury residents and officials as a betrayal of the administration's professed commitment to transparency.
Despite a unanimous vote of opposition from the Roxbury Township Council, federal officials reportedly provided no reply to local inquiries.
The Governor asserted that the community deserves better than to find out about high-impact federal projects via news reports.
Sherrill’s letter emphasizes that this lack of transparency has caused undue anxiety and frustration for the people of Roxbury.
Strain on municipal and public services
The scale of the proposed Roxbury facility is a major point of contention, with a projected capacity of 1,500 beds.
Sherrill warned that this would make it potentially the largest detention facility in the state, placing an enormous burden on a primarily residential area.
Beyond the social impact, the Governor raised alarms regarding increased wastewater, trash, and traffic congestion in northwestern New Jersey.
She further argued that the facility would siphon away viable economic opportunities from the warehouse sector, which is a critical engine of New Jersey's $300 billion annual business activity.
Grave concerns over humane treatment
Governor Sherrill expressed serious concerns regarding ICE’s documented history of "inhumane conditions" in detention facilities nationwide.
Citing issues like undrinkable water, spoiled food, and a lack of medical care, she stated that an industrial warehouse is "not suitable for human confinement."
The letter asserts that the treatment of individuals in custody reflects a "chilling disregard" for human life and the rule of law.
Sherrill vowed that New Jersey will not be "complicit" in federal acts that trample on basic liberties and the constitutional rights of citizens and non-citizens alike.
Legal tools to protect residents
To prevent the facility from moving forward, New Jersey will evaluate all available legal avenues, including federal compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Sherrill stressed that the state will not hesitate to use every legal tool at its disposal to defend the interests of Roxbury residents.
She concluded that the proposed facility would not enhance public safety in New Jersey.
Instead, she argued that its placement raises unacceptable environmental and quality-of-life concerns, prompting a firm state-level resistance to the federal mandate.
