Govt buying warehouses to turn into detention centers (incl. in Hagerstown)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I read someplace they're also setting up detention centers in central Virginia, possibly the Richmond area.

Hagerstown has turned into a crime-ridden hellscape. Commerce has left that area. There's a big jail complex just outside of town. When inmates get released, they often linger in the area. That jail system has really hurt that town. If something isn't nailed down, it gets stolen. Residents are not amused, but what can they do?

Maybe Van Hollen can turn his attention to ongoing crime in Hagerstown in addition to "sexy" news like a detention centers for illegal aliens. Taxpayers could really use a helping hand from someone they elected to office. So far - zero, zilch, nada, nothing. But he sure was eager to help Abrego-Garcia, an MS-13 gang banger.

I went on Van Hollen’s website and found dozens of federal grants and funding awards that his office helped provide for Hagerstown. This took me two minutes to do.

Here’s a sampling:

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-69-million-for-firefighters-first-responders-across-maryland
$83,181 to the Community Rescue Service in Hagerstown to purchase five new automatic CPR devices
$45,130 to the Community Rescue Service in Hagerstown, Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS, and the Smithsburg Community Volunteer Fire to equip ambulances with narcotic safes for controlled substances

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-announce-over-670-million-for-maryland-military-installations
Project Name: Hagerstown Vehicle Maintenance Shop Design
Applicant: Maryland Army National Guard
Project Description: Funds will be used to design a 22,894 square-foot vehicle maintenance shop in Hagerstown, MD to support the military vehicles and other ground equipment of the Maryland Army National Guard .
Project Location: Washington County
Amount Included: $3,250,000

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-2-million-to-increase-health-care-access-and-address-physician-shortage-in-western-maryland
The Meritus Health Care Foundation will receive $1,627,698 to purchase technology and simulation equipment for the new campus of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine in Hagerstown. These resources will help the school provide quality medical training to around 180 students annually and enhance their clinical skills. This funding comes amid the critical shortage of physicians in Western Maryland, which is negatively impacting health care access for residents across the region.

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-trone-announce-77-million-for-airport-infrastructure-projects-in-western-maryland
$6,786,262 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructions by the FAA and to renovate and expand the existing terminal building to accommodate existing and projected airline passenger demand

[Anonymous]

There already one up and running in Baltimore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
The government has been buying up several dozen mega warehouses around the country to turn into detention centers. One is in Hagerstown Maryland.


More than 200 people showed up to protest the warehouse plans in Hagerstown on Jan. 20 in below-freezing temperatures. “One of the most obscene, one of the most inhumane, one of the most illegal operations being carried out by this Trump Administration is what they’re doing at the Department of Homeland Security and ICE,” US Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, told the protesters. “We do not want an ICE facility here in the state of Maryland.”

To reach its goal of deporting 1 million people a year, the Trump administration has said it needs more than 100,000 detention beds. Currently, there are more than 73,000 people in ICE custody, a record. The new sites could give the agency an additional 76,500 beds, according to documents shared with Bloomberg News. To fill all of them, the administration would have to expand immigration arrests beyond what it is already doing, said Emma Winger, deputy legal director at the American Immigration Council.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-01-29/us-spends-hundreds-of-millions-on-warehouses-for-ice-detention-centers

And how much is this going to cost taxpayers?

Trump is too profligate with my money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I read someplace they're also setting up detention centers in central Virginia, possibly the Richmond area.

Hagerstown has turned into a crime-ridden hellscape. Commerce has left that area. There's a big jail complex just outside of town. When inmates get released, they often linger in the area. That jail system has really hurt that town. If something isn't nailed down, it gets stolen. Residents are not amused, but what can they do?

Maybe Van Hollen can turn his attention to ongoing crime in Hagerstown in addition to "sexy" news like a detention centers for illegal aliens. Taxpayers could really use a helping hand from someone they elected to office. So far - zero, zilch, nada, nothing. But he sure was eager to help Abrego-Garcia, an MS-13 gang banger.

I went on Van Hollen’s website and found dozens of federal grants and funding awards that his office helped provide for Hagerstown. This took me two minutes to do.

Here’s a sampling:

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-69-million-for-firefighters-first-responders-across-maryland
$83,181 to the Community Rescue Service in Hagerstown to purchase five new automatic CPR devices
$45,130 to the Community Rescue Service in Hagerstown, Williamsport Volunteer Fire and EMS, and the Smithsburg Community Volunteer Fire to equip ambulances with narcotic safes for controlled substances

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-announce-over-670-million-for-maryland-military-installations
Project Name: Hagerstown Vehicle Maintenance Shop Design
Applicant: Maryland Army National Guard
Project Description: Funds will be used to design a 22,894 square-foot vehicle maintenance shop in Hagerstown, MD to support the military vehicles and other ground equipment of the Maryland Army National Guard .
Project Location: Washington County
Amount Included: $3,250,000

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-2-million-to-increase-health-care-access-and-address-physician-shortage-in-western-maryland
The Meritus Health Care Foundation will receive $1,627,698 to purchase technology and simulation equipment for the new campus of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine in Hagerstown. These resources will help the school provide quality medical training to around 180 students annually and enhance their clinical skills. This funding comes amid the critical shortage of physicians in Western Maryland, which is negatively impacting health care access for residents across the region.

https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-trone-announce-77-million-for-airport-infrastructure-projects-in-western-maryland
$6,786,262 to Hagerstown Regional Airport to remove a building and relocate fencing identified as obstructions by the FAA and to renovate and expand the existing terminal building to accommodate existing and projected airline passenger demand

Excellent. Thank you for posting this. It's a badly needed start.

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to find out what companies sold or leased them the warehouse space. I would like to know which companies are this sick and despicable. I assume it’s public record?

[Anonymous]

MAGA is ok with this. They think the Bill of Rights is only applicable to them and the people they like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did Obama deport so many people without needing to do this?

He has more than a room temperature IQ, and surrounded himself with competent people.

Was any of his "tactics" in his memoir and or any plans for it to be revealed in the second part of his highly acclaimed book?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, MAGA. No healthcare for you. Private prison companies have to make back their investment in the 2024 election. Sucks to suck, as the kids say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did Obama deport so many people without needing to do this?

He has more than a room temperature IQ, and surrounded himself with competent people.

yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MAGA is ok with this. They think the Bill of Rights is only applicable to them and the people they like.

They will be sad when they realize their rights and freedoms are going bye bye too.

[Anonymous]

Hanover VA has convinced the Canadian company not to sell to ICE.

Looks like Hagerstown is going to get one of these "warehouses" / camps and probably get more immigrants who are actually here legally released on the streets with no money and no way to get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hanover VA has convinced the Canadian company not to sell to ICE.

Looks like Hagerstown is going to get one of these "warehouses" / camps and probably get more immigrants who are actually here legally released on the streets with no money and no way to get home.

I live here and I swear the warehouse was built specifically for ICE. It was recently completed. It's owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, who also owns "Great Wolf Lodge" locations. Local reaction was strong and the Board of Supervisors voted ICE down on the theory that there would be too much drain on local law enforcement and it's in a retail/residential area. Protestors repeatedly called Pattison's company in Vancouver. He backed out of the sale but probably not out of the goodness of his heart. I'd be interested to know whether he's built other warehouses for ICE. News articles are making Pattison sound benevolent while he sounds like the Canadian Trump. His name is on everything.
https://www.jimpattison.com/

[Anonymous]

Ok what's the alternative? They need to go somewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok what's the alternative? They need to go somewhere?

There are alternatives to concentrating people in warehouse camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok what's the alternative? They need to go somewhere?

If they’ve committed a violent crime, they should already be in jail or prison same as if a citizen did it. If their only offense is being in the country illegally, deport them right away. There’s no reason to round up nonviolent offenders and store them in a warehouse like chattel.