State officials argue federal agencies bypassed legal review and risk overburdening local infrastructure.
TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, alongside Governor Mikie Sherrill and the Township of Roxbury, has filed for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court to halt a proposed immigration detention facility planned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The legal action, announced Tuesday by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, seeks to prevent federal authorities from converting a vacant industrial warehouse along Route 46 in Roxbury into a large-scale detention center. State officials say the project could move forward as early as late May, prompting a request for emergency judicial intervention.
State challenges federal approval process
The lawsuit, originally filed March 20, alleges DHS and ICE failed to comply with multiple federal laws requiring consultation with state and local governments and a full assessment of environmental and infrastructure impacts. The complaint cites violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, and Immigration and Nationality Act.
Governor Sherrill said the project poses unacceptable risks to local communities. “The Trump Administration has ignored State and local officials in pushing its ill-conceived plan forward because it knows the local impacts are indefensible, and this facility will not make the community safer,” Sherrill said.
Attorney General Davenport emphasized the urgency of court action. “The court needs to step in before the damage is done, not after a lengthy case renders it too late,” she said.
Infrastructure and environmental concerns cited
According to the state’s filing, the proposed facility would house up to 1,500 detainees and employ approximately 1,000 staff, placing significant strain on local infrastructure in an area not zoned for high-density residential use.
Officials argue the existing warehouse lacks adequate water and sewage capacity, with only four toilets currently on-site. The conversion could increase water demand and wastewater output more than fifteenfold, raising concerns about potential sewage overflows into nearby land and waterways.
Environmental risks highlighted in the complaint include possible contamination affecting Lake Musconetcong, located about 1,000 feet from the site, and Lake Hopatcong, the largest freshwater lake in New Jersey.
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Key Points
• New Jersey and Roxbury seek injunction to block ICE detention facility project
• Lawsuit alleges DHS and ICE failed to follow federal environmental and consultation laws
• Proposed site could house 1,500 detainees and strain local infrastructure
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Traffic and public safety implications
State officials also raised concerns about increased traffic near the Route 46 and Interstate 80 interchange, an area already associated with frequent accidents. The addition of hundreds of daily staff commutes could worsen congestion and elevate safety risks.
The motion notes that a federal court has already found a similar ICE facility conversion in Maryland likely unlawful, strengthening New Jersey’s argument that the Roxbury project should be paused pending judicial review.
The case is now before a U.S. District Court judge, who will determine whether to grant the preliminary injunction. If approved, the order would temporarily block construction while litigation proceeds.
The matter remains ongoing, with federal agencies expected to respond in court filings as the legal challenge advances.