CHESTER – Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) announced on Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not transform a Chester warehouse into a detention center.
According to Maher, he spoke to a senior advisor to the director of ICE while deployed overseas. Following the meeting, Maher received confirmation from ICE that its review process had concluded and that the agency would not be moving forward with the Chester site at this time.
At least one elected official in the Hudson Valley was skeptical of Maher’s announcement, especially since had been on the background of this issue during his deployment. Officials from ICE could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday afternoon.
“We tried every way we could to get someone from ICE on the phone,” said Village of Chester Mayor Tom Bell. “We are appreciative of Assemblyman Maher’s efforts to reach out while he is currently deployed and advocate on behalf of our bipartisan group to ensure this location was ultimately not considered. The greater Chester community appreciates his leadership on this issue, and we hope he stays safe as he serves our country overseas.”
Just last week, ICE rolled out plans for a facility at the former Pep Boys warehouse. However, ICE later admitted that it had falsely claimed that it purchased the property.
The proposal had received fierce blowback from residents and elected officials, including Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18), Senator James Skoufis (D, Orange County) and Republican Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, since it was it was revealed in December. During Maher’s conversation with ICE, he raised concerns regarding the proposed location, citing its proximity to a population center and the area’s infrastructure limitations. He also conveyed the unified bipartisan opposition from local elected officials and community members who had raised serious concerns about the site.
“I’d very much like to get confirmation from ICE about this,” Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge said. “I appreciate Assemblyman Maher’s efforts, and I hope that he has gotten us somewhere.”
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