New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abandoned its plans to establish a mass detention center at an industrial warehouse in Roxbury. This decision marks a significant victory for both the State of New Jersey and the township of Roxbury.
Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport emphasized that the plan was always unlawful. They argued that converting a package warehouse into a facility for thousands of detainees would be inhumane, cause devastating local and environmental impacts, and would not enhance New Jersey's safety.
"This has never been a partisan case, because the plan to establish a detention center at the Roxbury warehouse was always unlawful," Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport said. They confirmed that legal action was taken against the Department, which ultimately compelled the Trump administration to withdraw its proposal.