By: Michael Matthews | Publish Date: March 24th, 2026
On March 20, Governor Mikie Sherrill, along with Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, announced that New Jersey and the Township of Roxbury are jointly suing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies. Their intention is to prevent ICE from converting a vacant warehouse into a large-scale immigration detention facility, without addressing state and local concerns of water, sewage, and public safety.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Intergovernmental Cooperation Act (ICA), and Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). New Jersey and Roxbury are asking the U.S. District Court to stop the federal government from going through with this decision to create a mass detention facility.
“The safety and well-being of New Jerseyans will always be my top priority, and the Trump Administration’s plans for a detention facility in Roxbury will not make our residents safer,” Governor Sherrill said to Nj.gov, “instead, this facility will overburden local services and infrastructure. These types of facilities also have a record of abuse, mistreatment, and unsafe conditions.”
The lawsuit comes as a result of a cooperative working relationship between the Township of Roxbury and the Office of the Attorney General. “Today, we join efforts to enforce the law and protect the rights of all New Jerseyans,” said Attorney General Davenport.
The complaint alleges that the building consists largely of a single large room with concrete floors and only four toilets. It is located right off a highway, a dangerous section of road. It lacks adequate water or sewage access to accommodate large staff and detainees. The prosecution believes that the gallons of wastewater per day would multiply and be more than 15 times the current approved limit and that the local economy would be harmed financially
As Governor Sherrill begins her tenth week, stay turned every Tuesday afternoon for Michael Matthews’ and the Tower’s coverage.
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