Maryland

Judge orders pause on ICE detention center construction in Maryland

Published

4 weeks ago

March 13, 2026

Press Room

Judge orders pause on ICE detention center construction in Maryland

Kanishka Singh
| Reuters

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Maryland issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, March 11, to halt construction work on an immigration detention center after the state had sued, citing environmental concerns.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown had argued that President Donald Trump’s administration had not conducted a proper environmental review or received public input. The federal government spent more than $100 million on a 54-acre warehouse in Maryland’s Washington County to convert it into a detention center capable of holding 1,500 people at a time, Brown said in February when the state sued.

U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson granted Maryland’s request for a restraining order to immediately pause construction for up to 14 days while the court considered Maryland’s broader legal challenge.

“The State has shown that Defendants likely failed to comply with their obligations under (the National Environmental Policy Act),” the judge wrote. “Defendants do not appear to have taken a ‘hard look’ at the potential environmental consequences of their plans for the Williamsport Warehouse.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has federal oversight of immigration, has previously said DHS was willing to work with state officials to expand detention capabilities. It has also previously rejected Maryland’s assertion that the lawsuit was based on environmental concerns.

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation drive has received widespread condemnation from rights advocates over what they call violations of free speech and due process rights. Rights experts also say the enforcement policies have created an unsafe environment, particularly for minorities.

Trump has cast his actions as aiming to stop illegal immigration and improve domestic security.

Brown cast the ruling as a win.

“Though temporary, this ruling stops the construction of this massive immigration detention center while our lawsuit continues to play out in court. We will not let DHS and ICE rush through the proper legal process in their haste to ramp up deportations,” Brown said.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Michael Perry)

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Maryland

Fallen firefighters memorial in Maryland closed ahead of cermony due to DHS shutdown

Published

2 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Fallen firefighters memorial in Maryland closed ahead of cermony due to DHS shutdown

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Families of fallen firefighters may be unable to access a national memorial honoring their loved ones due to a federal funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation says the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial is currently closed to the public, just weeks before its annual remembrance ceremony.

The closure is tied to restricted access at the National Emergency Training Center campus, which houses the memorial and falls under DHS operations.

In early May, the foundation is set to honor 204 firefighters from 43 states during the 45th National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, scheduled for May 2-3.

SEE ALSO | Maryland’s new paint fees spark outrage as recycling nonprofit isn’t registered in state

For many families, this event represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the site where their loved ones are permanently honored.

“These families…should be able to stand where their loved ones are recognized by our nation,” said CEO Victor Stagnaro.

The foundation is calling on federal leaders to restore access to the memorial ahead of the ceremony, emphasizing the memorial’s emotional importance to grieving families.

“Congress established the memorial to ensure America remembers its fire heroes,” Stagnaro said. “We urge federal leaders to act now.”

While the foundation says it remains committed to holding Memorial Weekend services with dignity, public access to the ground remains uncertain unless funding issues are resolved.

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Maryland

Maryland residents question new paint can fee amid growing costs

Published

14 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Maryland residents question new paint can fee amid growing costs

MARYLAND (WBFF) — A trip to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) left some drivers stunned by higher costs that they say are piling up across the state.

Tony Joshua said he walked away when he saw what it would cost to register his vehicle.

“Sticker shock? (laughs),” he said. “I turned right around and got out of the line. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have it.”

ALSO READ | Maryland’s new paint fees spark outrage as recycling nonprofit isn’t registered in state

The cost of registering, titling and inspecting a vehicle in Maryland doubled last year, but the fee increases don’t stop at the MVA. The Maryland legislature has approved more than 300 new fees in the past two years including a tire tax, a tech tax and a vending machine tax.

“It’s just like greed more than anything,” Baltimore resident Clifton Parrot said.

Baltimore resident Sheila Bowling questioned how the additional funding is being used.

“This is the million dollar question. Nobody knows what those fees are doing. Everything is high in the city,” she said.

If I’m dodging potholes, where is the money going?” Joshua asked.

One of the latest fees will be attached to every gallon of paint sold in Maryland and will go to a nonprofit organization that will manage Maryland’s paint recycling program. But FOX45 News has learned that the nonprofit, PaintCare, isn’t registered as a nonprofit in the state of Maryland, even though it’s set to receive a dollar fee for every gallon of paint sold in the state.

Joshua said the growing costs have him questioning whether he can stay in Maryland.

“It flabbergasts me where the money is going. Sometimes I’m like ‘dude, do I stay here?’” he said.

Bowling said, “This shouldn’t be happening in 2026 this shouldn’t be happening.”

For many Marylanders, the rising fees have strained budgets and morale, with some saying they can no longer afford the increasing price of driving.

“I’m just at my wits end about it. I’m like when do we, the taxpayers get a break?” Joshua asked.

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Maryland

Deadly motorcycle crash closes busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Deadly motorcycle crash closes busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News

A deadly crash involving a motorcycle shut down a stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, early Tuesday.

Montgomery County police said officers responded around 6:15 a.m. to a report of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle at Manor Road and Connecticut Avenue.

A motorcyclist was found in serious condition. Police said the man died at the scene.

A woman driving the car was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Connecticut Avenue is closed in both directions between Jones Bridge Road and Manor Road as police investigate the collision.

The crash is the latest in a series of deadly motorcycle incidents across Maryland, including a deadly hit-and-run in Charles County that left one man dead Saturday.

A map of the area is below.

CLICK MAP FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE WTOP TRAFFIC CENTER: Map shows closure of Connecticut Avenue in both directions, south of Interstate 495 in Chevy Chase, Md.

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