A warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, that was acquired by the Department of Homeland Security as part of a billion-dollar initiative to establish migrant detention facilities appears to be in use, according to an NPR investigation. The facility is among several properties the agency purchased earlier this year to expand its detention infrastructure. A court order currently forbids the conversion of the Roxbury site into an official detention center pending environmental assessments, yet neighbors have reported suspicious activity throughout the summer months.
The broader warehouse conversion plan faced substantial opposition from residents, advocacy organizations, and state officials who raised environmental and humanitarian concerns. Several state attorneys general filed lawsuits challenging the initiative, and legal obstacles have stalled formal conversions at multiple locations. However, the federal government continues to retain ownership of facilities in Maryland, Arizona, and New Jersey, which officials argue fill critical gaps in the detention network in regions lacking robust ICE partnerships with local law enforcement.
A government contractor who was approached about converting warehouses told NPR that departmental officials expressed reservations about the plan, with several proposing more humane alternatives such as FEMA-style camps in Texas. The contractor claimed that concerns about warehouse conditions were dismissed, attributing this to preferences expressed by White House personnel. The White House denied these allegations, characterizing them as false allegations from someone without direct knowledge of administration discussions.
Throughout the summer, residents near the Roxbury facility reported observing regular vehicle traffic and raised questions about the site’s activities in community forums. These accounts coincided with a significant increase in ICE enforcement actions during the same period. The New Jersey Attorney General’s office indicated it is investigating similar reports regarding potential detention activities at the warehouse.
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