ICE 'No Longer Interested in Chester' as Location for Detention Center, according to Assemblyman Maher

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Despite previous reports, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not purchased the warehouse in Chester, N.Y., to function as a detention facility.

"We have no new detention centers to announce at this time,” an ICE spokesperson said in an email to the Circle on Feb. 26. 

“[Assemblyman Brian Maher] stated he's spoken with an ICE official who told him that they are no longer interested in Chester for one of their facilities,” Chester Town Supervisor Brandon Holdridge told The Circle in an email. “ICE has made no such official statements and will apparently not allow the release of the emails where this communication took place.”

This update occurred on Feb. 18, just five days after ICE claimed to have purchased the facility on Feb. 13. 

“Every day, DHS is conducting law enforcement activities across the country to keep Americans safe,” the email from ICE continued. “It should not come as news that ICE will be making arrests in states across the U.S. and is actively working to expand detention space.”

Holdridge told the Circle that there isn't much clarity on anything at this point, and any information they’ve received is through third parties, not official information from ICE. 

Still, Holdridge said, “I have 68 elected officials signed onto my joint letter opposing the facility at this point.”

The Circle will continue to report on this matter as it proceeds.