Roxbury officials confirm ICE warehouse purchase
By: William Westhoven
Morristown Daily Record
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Following a week of confusing confirmations and denials from federal authorities, Roxbury officials now confirming hat the U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement has purchased a massive warehouse for sue as a detention facility for immigrants arrested by ICE officials.
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Two days after they were told by DHS officials that no sale had taken place, Roxbury officials said a statement on February 20 [2026] that "with profound disappointment," ICE closed on the 474,00-square-foot warehouse at 1879 Route 46 from Dalfen Industrial within Roxbury Township.
..... The Roxbury council, which previously passed a resolution opposing the facility in their town, has vowed it "will not passively kept this outcome."
..... "The Township Council and our legal team have been preparing to pursue all available legal remedies," the Roxbury statement reads. "we are ready to challenge this matter in court and will act swiftly and aggressively to stop the development of a detention center in Roxbury Township. Critics issued - including infrastructure capacity, easements, significant environmental constraints and intermunicipla agreements - must be fully examined and weighted through the proper legal process."
Conflicting reports
..... New Jersey Democrats reacted swiftly on February 18 [2026] to a report by the Gothamist that DHS had confirmed the Roxbury warehouse purchase. But later in the day, DHS officials denied a sale had taken place.
..... Confusion continued to mount as reports emerged of similar apparent false statements by DHS regarding other communicates this week, [02/20/2026] issuing and then retracting statements about supposed warehouse purchases in Chester, New York, and Lebanon, Tennessee. according to News 12 and the Tennessee Lookout.
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DHS officials did not respond to multiple request for clarification on February 19. [2026]
..... Senator Cory Booker was the first to lash out, even as the warehouse purchase reports were being retracted.
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"I joined them in this call, expressing my clear and unequivocal opposition to the construction, conversion, or opening of any more immigration detention centers in New Jersey," Booker, a Democrat, said in a statement February 18. [2026]
..... "These facilities have no place in our community ," Booker said.
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Governor Mikie Sherrill's office said she was "evaluating all of our options" to prevent the project.
..... "The Trump administration's plans for an ICE detention facility in Roxbury will not make New Jersey safer," Sherrill spokesman Sean Higgins said. "We are working to gather more information as the Department of Homeland Security has failed to cooperate with local officials or provide any meaningful information about the facility. This is not a partisan issue."
..... Rumors of ICE coming to town in late December [2026] (the address was among a list of ICE warehouse targets published by The Washington Post) set off a series of recent protests by local opponents, including a roadside rally on Route 46 on February 16 [2026] that drew a reported 500 participants. Residents and activists have also filled the seats at recent meetings of the Roxbury council, urging it to adopt further measures to try to block the proposal.
..... "Over the past eight weeks, the township remained vigilant in pursuing every fact-based and lawful avenue available to prevent this outcome," the Roxbury announcement states. "We extend our sincere gratitude to the many residents, professionals and officials who worked tirelessly in defense of our community."
..... The all-Republican Roxbury council based its opposition to the warehouse facility on the strains it would put on the infrastructure of the town.
..... "It's placement within a residential area, combined with significant limitations in water and sewer infrastructure, should have been immediate and disqualifying considerations," the Roxbury statement continued. "furthermore, our volunteer fire department and EMS personnel as well as our 42-member police department, are dedicated to serving the needs of Roxbury residents and are not structured to absorb the demands such a facility would impose. To date, the police department has already dedicated approximately $20,000 to this effort."
..... Projecting additional costs to the town associated with the presence of the ICE facility, Roxbury officials say they attempted to negotiate with the property owner, Dalfen International, "to offer meaningful financial and political support to encourage redevelopment that would align with Roxbury's long-term community interests."
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"Despite these offers few up to 10 years' worth of tax abatement at a total of approximately $20 million on the building did not result in a collaborative solution that prioritized transparency or the well-being of our residents," officials 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."
Kean, DHS 'did not engage'
..... The council also repressed disappointment in Representative Tom Kean Jr., who represents Roxbury in Congress, saying despite communicating "their legitimate concerns," Kean "did not engage to the level we hoped to provide the advocacy our residents deserved."
..... Kean disputed that accusation, In an email to the Daily Record, he wrote, "We worked closely with officials in Roxbury and engaged directly with the highest level of DHS on their behalf."
..... The residents of Roxbury can be assured hat I will not stop fighting for a workable solution," Kean continued. "The overwhelming majority of residents, alng witht he state adn the country, support getting criminla illegal migrants off our streets and stopping teh flow of Fentanyl."
..... Kean said he understands the frustration and emotion the situation has cerated, adding, "We need to, and will, keep a level head as we continue to work constructively to deliver results."
..... The council also criticized DHS officials from whom "we received absolutely no feedback form."
..... "It is also inconceivable and frankly stunning that all of our communications to DHS on issues related to this selection as a detention center were never answered," they wrote.