Maryland AG Seeks Injunction Against Unlawful ICE Detention Facility

AG: Maryland News

Filed March 19th, 2026

Detected March 22nd, 2026

Summary

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the construction and operation of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Washington County. This action follows a temporary restraining order issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, which has been extended to April 16, 2026.

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What changed

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to prevent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from converting a warehouse in Williamsport, Maryland, into an immigration detention facility. This motion is part of ongoing litigation challenging the facility's planned conversion, which the state argues violates federal administrative and environmental laws. The court previously issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on March 11, 2026, pausing construction, and has extended it to April 16, 2026, to consider the preliminary injunction request.

Regulated entities, particularly government agencies involved in facility development and operation, should monitor the outcome of this preliminary injunction motion and the underlying litigation. The court's decision will determine whether construction and operation of the facility can proceed while the case is ongoing. Failure to comply with any court-ordered injunction could result in contempt of court proceedings. The state's lawsuit challenges the facility's conversion under federal administrative and environmental law.

What to do next

Monitor court proceedings regarding the preliminary injunction motion.
Review legal challenges to federal administrative and environmental law compliance for facility conversions.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Brown Files Motion for Preliminary Injunction to Halt Construction and Operation of Unlawful ICE Detention Facility in Washington County as Litigation Continues

Published: 3/19/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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BALTIMORE, MD – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the Trump administration from converting a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland, into a mass immigration detention facility. The motion comes after the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on March 11 immediately pausing any construction or retrofitting of the warehouse. The Court has since extended the TRO to April 16 to allow for briefing and consideration of today’s preliminary injunction motion.

In its motion for a preliminary injunction, Maryland is asking the court to bar Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from constructing, retrofitting, or operating the Williamsport Warehouse as an immigration detention facility while this litigation remains ongoing.

On February 23, 2026, Attorney General Brown filed a lawsuit against DHS and ICE challenging the purchase and planned conversion of a warehouse near Williamsport, Maryland in violation of federal administrative and environmental law.