Brennan and Bhalla Applaud New Jersey Lawsuit to Block ICE Detention Center in Roxbury

New Jersey lawmakers call on state to use every tool available to stop ICE from operating above the law

JERSEY CITY / HOBOKEN, NJ — Earlier today, the State of New Jersey and the Township of Roxbury filed a federal lawsuit to block ICE from converting a warehouse in Roxbury into a 1,500-person detention center, highlighting how the immigration enforcement agency violated environmental law, ignored state and local officials, and chose a site unfit for human habitation.

In response to the lawsuit, Assemblywoman Katie Brennan (D-Jersey City) and Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla (D-Hoboken) released the following statements:

“When a federal agency ignores the law, they should expect to end up in court,” said Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla. “Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport deserve a lot of credit here for standing up for our state and showing the Trump administration that we won’t be pushed around. We're not going to let ICE put people in danger and pretend the rules don't apply to them.”

"This is a rogue agency that constantly breaks the law, so New Jersey has every reason to fight back. We have laws on the books for a reason,” said Assemblywoman Katie Brennan. “There's no way to operate this type of detention center without violating people's basic human rights, so it's no surprise ICE is trying to bypass the requirements any other building would have to follow. New Jersey needs to keep standing up to unlawful federal immigration practices in court, in the Legislature, and everywhere else we can.”

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