ROXBURY - Tom Kean Jr. wants the feds to take a "deeper look" at their plans for an ICE warehouse off Route 46. Said so in an April 7 letter to the Department of Homeland Security.

The letter was the first concrete step Kean has taken regarding the proposed ICE center in his district - CD-7 covering western Jersey.

His missive, however, omits a rather important fact.

That is that the township and state are suing the feds to stop the plan. In fact, on the same day that Kean wrote his letter, the state and township sought an injunction to stop the detention plans until legal issues are resolved. Kean's letter does not mention the suit.

The letter does say that:

"Roxbury’s elected leaders have expressed several concerns related to the proposed facility."

Actually, even before the suit, the township had adopted a resolution opposing the ICE center.

Since the beginning of this saga in December, the Republican township council has complimented Democratic senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim for championing the township's cause.

As for Kean, not so much.

A statement about six weeks ago did not mention his name, but said that the town's federal representative had not been a strong advocate for them.

Kean has a different take. In the letter, he said:

"Since December 2025, I have been actively engaged on this issue on a daily basis and in consistent communication with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Roxbury’s concerns are clearly conveyed and carefully reviewed."

The politics here are easy to see.

Kean's district is seen as the most competitive in New Jersey. A Republican administration seeking to put an unpopular ICE facility in the district of a GOP congressman just makes no sense.

And it could only hurt Kean.

Clearly, you have to think Kean hopes it just goes away.

And who knows, that may happen.

Reports a few days ago said that with the departure of Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security department may be reviewing its plans for huge detention centers around the country.

In the meantime, Kean obviously felt he had to get something on the record.

A copy of his letter follows:

Dear Secretary (Markwayne) Mullin:

Congratulations on your recent nomination and bipartisan confirmation. It was a pleasure working with you during your service in the United States Senate, where you consistently sought to build bipartisan consensus and advance meaningful policy solutions designed to stand the test of time. I look forward to continuing that work as you lead the Department in addressing complex security threats and challenges facing our country.
I write regarding the proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Roxbury Township, New Jersey, within my district. I respectfully request that the Department take a deeper look at the proposal and give careful consideration to the concerns raised by local officials, while working collaboratively with multiple levels of government to identify the most appropriate path forward.
Roxbury’s elected leaders have expressed several concerns related to the proposed facility. These include the projected fiscal impact associated with the federal acquisition of the property, which local officials indicate could result in a loss of municipal tax revenue, placing additional burden on local taxpayers. Township officials have also cited increased operational strain on local public safety services, including the Township’s police department, volunteer fire and rescue personnel. In addition, local leaders have raised questions regarding site suitability, including the adequacy of utility infrastructure, environmental constraints and zoning considerations. It is important that these local considerations are comprehensively evaluated as part of the Department’s decision-making process.
Since December 2025, I have been actively engaged on this issue on a daily basis and in consistent communication with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Roxbury’s concerns are clearly conveyed and carefully reviewed. I will continue to serve as a conduit for constructive dialogue so that all perspectives are understood. A high level of coordination between federal officials and local leadership would be hugely beneficial in addressing outstanding questions and ensuring that decisions are informed by on-the-ground realities.
My priority is to ensure that any decision is the result of a thoughtful and balanced approach that considers law enforcement’s operational necessities alongside the interests of the local community. I remain fully committed to working with you and the residents of Roxbury to identify a workable solution. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to thoughtful, collaborative engagement.
Sincerely,
Thomas H. Kean, Jr.