6 events in Passaic County with a date

ICE agrees to pay $129.3M for Roxbury warehouse

By: William Westhoven
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... Local officials upset by the federal government's purchase of a Roxbury warehouse for sue as an immigrant detention center have focused on the potentially budget-busting costs of infrastructure, security and other ramifications for the suburban township.
..... The cost to the federal government is now more concrete: Public documents show that the Trump administration agreed to pay $129.3 million for the 470,000-square-foot building on Route 46.
..... A seller's exemption certificate obtained from the Morris County Clerk's Office by the Daily Record verified the purchase price and a sale date of February 19. [2026] The U.S. Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the purchase last week [02/24/2026] but declined to provide a timeline for its conversion into a faculty for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
..... "Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe," a statement provided by DHS spokeswoman Christine Cuttita said. "It should not come as news hat ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space."
..... Property records list Dallas-based Dalfen Industrial LLC as the owner, but New York investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated confirmed in a February 26 [2026] statement that the site was hold in a real estate investment fund that it controlled.
..... "This property, which sat vacant for two years, was held in a real estate investment fund that we manage," Goldman said. "We had a fiduciary obligation to investors in the fund to sell it."
..... Public protests continued last week [02/26/2026] at the Roxbury Township council meeting. another rally was scheduled for February 28. [2026]
..... The council passed a resolution opposing the project last month, [01/2026] and local officials have said they were kept out of discussion between the federal govern moment and the warehouse's owner.
..... Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Andy Kim introduced a bill in Congress on February 26 [2026] that would prohibit DHS form using taxpayer dollars "taken through Trump's 'Big Disastrous Reconciliation Bill" - a reference to the Republican-pases One Big Beautiful Bill - to purchase or use warehouses "to detain non-citizens."
..... "Like in Roxbury, people across the country are standing up against this inhumanity, and Congress needs to stand with them, Kim said in a statement announcing the End Warehouse Detention Act. "these are our tax dollars - not a slush fund for this administration's lawlessness. Donald Trump is using the money took from working families' health care to fun his cruelty and open detention facilities that our communities have made clear we want no part of."
..... Booker and Kim are both Democrats. Their legislation has little chance of advancing this year [2026] with Republicans controlling both the Senate and the House.
..... The Roxbury council released its won blistering statement after the warehouse sale was announced, saying it was "inconceivable and frankly stunning that all of our communication to DHS on issues related to this selection as a detention center were never answered."

Tax less or 'benefit'?

..... The Trump administration has defended its plans, saying in a Homeland Security statement that centers like the on in Roxbury "will not be warehouses - they will be very well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards."
..... "Sites will undergo community impact studies and a rigorous due diligence precess to make sure there is no hardship on local utilities or infrastructure prior to purchase," the Homeland Security statement said.
..... The department touted economic benefits for Roxbury, saying "the facility and its construction are expected to bring 1,300 jobs to the area and would contribute $131.2 million to GDP. It's also projected to bring in more than $39.2 million in tax revenue."
..... "These economic benefits don't even take into account that removing criminal from the streets makes communities safer for business and customers," the agency added.
..... The statement did not explain how those economic figures were derived.
..... Roxbury officials, however, noted that federally owned properties are exempt from local property taxes.
..... "The projected loss of approximately $1.8 million annually in tax revenue - impacting the township, our school district, and Morris County - represents an estimated $85 million loss over the next 30 years," the council said in a statement.
..... "These financial and infrastructure realities present serious and lasting consequences for our community."
..... Property tax records show that the land is valued at $62.2 million and generated $1.8 million in 2025 property taxes. Commercial real estate experts, however, confirm that the $129.3 million price paid is within the range of current market value for prime warehouses sales in North Jersey.

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