County Fight
Won
Orange County NY — Community opposition kills Chester warehouse (for now)
Orange, NY
Current status: ICE backed away from Chester site ~Feb 20, 2026, after 400+ at public meeting, 10,000+ petition signatures, 50+ elected officials' bipartisan letter. But 'at this time' language + unaddressed New Windsor/Woodbury sites mean Orange County still at risk.
One of the highest-profile community victories against ICE’s Detention Reengineering Initiative. Residents mobilized rapidly after DHS proposed converting a former Pep Boys distribution warehouse into a 1,500-bed facility.
What Made This Fight Work
- Speed: Community organized within days of news breaking in January 2026
- Scale: 400+ at public meeting, 10,000+ petition signatures
- Bipartisan: 50+ elected officials signed opposition letter
- Federal support: Rep. Pat Ryan and Sen. Schumer demanded answers
- State support: Sen. Michelle Hinchey publicly opposed
- Infrastructure arguments: Flood plain, wetlands, inadequate sewage
Remaining Risk
ICE said it would not proceed “at this time” — not a permanent cancellation. Agency also did not address other Orange County sites in New Windsor and Woodbury. Orange County Jail already holds ICE detainees (324 booked in 2024, $78M total jail costs). The county remains a high-value target for ICE detention infrastructure.
Connection to Statewide Fight
The Chester fight catalyzed support for NY4All Act and Gov. Hochul’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act. NYIC used Chester as evidence for why Albany must act.
Sources
- See chester-ny-warehouse-proposal for full timeline and sources
- NYIC: Chester advances despite opposition (Feb 2026)
This research is published at The RAMM — investigative reporting on the detention pipeline.