Report Finds Signs ICE Used New Jersey Warehouse for Detention Despite Court Order
An NPR investigation found indications that a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, has been used by ICE as a detention site even though a court order bars its conversion pending environmental review. The facility was among 11 warehouses purchased by the Department of Homeland Security in 2026 for about $1 billion as part of President Trump's deportation effort. A government contractor said officials rejected a more humane alternative and indicated that White House adviser Stephen Miller wanted the facilities to be harsh and painful.
According to NPR, a Roxbury, N.J., warehouse appears to have served as an ICE detention site during the summer, even though a judicial order blocks repurposing it until required environmental checks conclude. The site was among 11 warehouses Homeland Security bought in 2026 for roughly $1 billion under President Trump’s deportation push.
A contractor told NPR that a Texas camp proposal intended to treat detainees better was rejected, and he understood White House adviser Stephen Miller wanted conditions to be punitive and discomforting. The White House denied that account. New Jersey’s attorney general is examining related reports.
The report could intensify scrutiny of federal detention practices and deepen distrust among immigrant communities in New Jersey and elsewhere. Residents near such sites may face uncertainty and local political tension, while courts and state officials may play a larger role in overseeing compliance. Depending