Construction resumes on proposed ICE facility in Elkridge

Construction is underway once again at the proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Elkridge after a federal judge reinstated the project’s construction permits this month.

Attorney Michael Edney, who represents federal contractor Genesis GSA Strategic One, which owns the property, confirmed this week that construction has resumed at 6522 Meadowridge Road.

Genesis has been redeveloping the building to replace ICE’s Baltimore field office, currently located in downtown Baltimore’s Hopkins Plaza.

Just before 9 a.m. Thursday, the gates encircling the Elkridge building were open and construction workers in hard hats walked around the property while power tools buzzed.

Howard County spokesperson Safa Hira did not respond to a request for comment.

U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson granted a preliminary injunction Aug. 10 against Howard County, reinstating the permits and dealing a blow to local elected leaders and residents who opposed the project.

It was not immediately clear when the field office is slated to open. ICE officials originally intended to move into the space in May.

The facility was more than 90% complete when Howard County leaders revoked construction permits in early February and passed emergency legislation aimed at blocking the project.

Genesis responded by filing a federal lawsuit against the county, arguing officials’ actions had violated the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, which gives precedence to federal law when it conflicts with state or local law.

The Department of Justice and Maryland both took an interest in the case, with attorneys for the Trump administration throwing their support behind Genesis and attorneys for the state supporting Howard.

County attorneys walked back their defense of the emergency legislation and acknowledged that it did not apply to the Elkridge ICE facility. However, they argued the revocation of the building permits was appropriate because the facility’s developers had failed to make certain public disclosures required by state law for private immigrant detention facilities.

Under Genesis’ agreement with federal authorities, the private Michigan-based company was contracted to retrofit the brick office building for ICE and then lease it to the government. Architectural renderings filed with the county show most of the facility is being converted into office space, training rooms and storage for ICE. A small section of the building is being converted into detainee holding areas.

According to court filings, the detention space is not intended for overnight use and those who require a longer stay will be transferred to other facilities.

Howard County attorneys filed notice Monday that they intend to appeal the judge’s decision to reinstate the building permits. Attorneys for Genesis have indicated in email correspondence that they oppose any appeal, court records say.