ROXBURY - Tom Kean Jr. has another chance to "advocate" for a town in his Seventh Congressional District.

That would be Roxbury, now suffering from a case of "deja vu all over again."

The lead here is sort of buried, but that's OK. The news that the feds are again considering building an ICE detention center off of Route 46 circulated last week,

Digressing a bit, recall that the story popped up around last Christmas and a few months later, the Department of Homeland Security bought the vacant warehouse.

There were protests at council meetings, in the street and eventually, a resolution by the Republican town council opposing the idea. A lawsuit followed with the state and township as plaintiffs. Things were put on hold in May pending an environmental study.

But then news surfaced a few weeks ago that the homeland security department - now under the new leadership of Markwayne Mullen - had changed its mind. There would be no ICE center in Roxbury.

Mikie Sherrill, for one, dispatched a release that amounted to spiking the football in the endzone. Like with the Gateway Tunnel, this was another case where the state had bested the Trump Administration, she said..

Nonetheless, if there is one constant with Donald Trump, it's change.

Just last week, the feds issued yet another statement saying plans had changed again. An ICE detention center in Roxbury is back on the table.

Here is part of what Mayor Shawn Potillo had to say on social media:

"From the very beginning, our position has been clear and consistent, we will continue to use every legal tool available to protect the people, property, and resources of Roxbury Township.This latest development does not change our position, and it does not alter the course of our legal challenge. Our case remains active, and we will continue to pursue every available legal remedy on behalf of our community.

This is obviously deeply disappointing news for the residents of Roxbury Township, who have demonstrated remarkable patience and resilience throughout this process. While we do not know exactly what prompted the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider its previous position, we are confident that this decision was not the result of any action, request, or change in the position of Roxbury Township."

So the lawsuit continues.

Asked about the turn of events on Monday, the governor speculated that the federal government, which paid $130 million for the warehouse, was upset and not sure what to do.

Sherrill added:

"It makes no sense."

Well, maybe it does. Which brings us back to Tom Kean.

Back a few months ago when public opposition was pretty high, the Roxbury Council released a statement saying that Kean, who was described as their federal representative, had not been a strong advocate in the town's fight against ICE. There was no further explanation, but criticism of a Republican congressman by a GOP council got some attention.

Now Kean - just back from nearly four months away with what he said was depression - has another chance.

We must refer to recent comments by Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, as reported by Matt Friedman in Politico,

The point most simply. The feds do not really plan to build an ICE center in Roxbury. But they are raising the issue to give Kean a chance to condemn it, and lead the hometown fight against it,

What makes that plausible is the fact CD-7 is the most competitive district in the state. It leans Republican registration wise, but an early poll has Democrat Rebecca Bennett in the lead. That poll was taken, however, soon after she won the primary and while Kean was away from Congress.

Still, Kean needs a major issue to demonstrate that he is indeed back.

Then again, even before his illness, Kean was not exactly exuberant in discussing major issues publicly.

A call to his office Tuesday morning seeking his reaction to the change of plans in Roxbury has not been returned.