Rebecca Bennett Statement on ICE Warehouse Purchase in Roxbury

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Today, Navy helicopter pilot, healthcare leader, and mom of two, Rebecca Bennett, candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, issued the following statement regarding the ICE warehouse purchase in Roxbury:

“Roxbury has been clear: the community does not want an ICE detention center forced onto its town.

“Even the Republican-led Roxbury Township Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the conversion of local warehouses into an ICE detention or processing facility.

“Lack of transparency from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, combined with lack of communication with local officials or the public has now culminated in the federal government confirming the purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury. Local leaders were blindsided, shut out of the process, and left without basic answers.

“Throughout this entire process, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. was nowhere to be found.

“Roxbury’s own Republican local leaders stated that they repeatedly reached out and that Congressman Kean “did not engage to the level” necessary to provide the advocacy their residents deserved. NJ-7 families deserve a representative who shows up before the damage is done.

“Tom Kean Jr. owes the people of Roxbury an explanation for his silence, his lack of urgency, and his failure to publicly oppose this facility.

“I stand with the residents of Roxbury, Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, with the local officials demanding transparency and answers from DHS, and with every community in NJ-07 that expects accountability and real representation. I will fight alongside our local leaders against this ICE detention center."

Rebecca Bennett is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, officer in the Air National Guard, business leader in healthcare, and mom of two. Rebecca served in the Navy for over a decade as a helicopter pilot and aircraft commander. After serving her country for over fifteen years in the military and making waves in healthcare innovation, Rebecca is running for Congress to build a better future for our community. As a mom to two young girls, Rebecca understands first-hand the challenges of balancing work & family while navigating inflation and the rising cost of living.