Tens of thousands of people have come together to express their outrage over a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Chester, New York. The 35.9-acre property on Elizabeth Drive is set to be purchased by ICE, with plans for renovations that include a guard building, outdoor recreation area, and alterations to the perimeter fence.
Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley, has circulated a petition calling on the administration to reconsider its decision. Over 10,000 people have signed the petition so far, with many expressing their opposition to the facility citing concerns over community safety and the potential for detention centers.
The proposed facility would be a significant increase in ICE's physical presence in the New York City area, which has largely avoided the level of immigration enforcement seen in other major cities during President Donald Trump's second term. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that the facility will not be used as a detention center, but several news outlets have reported on plans for "processing sites" across the country.
Despite this, many community members and elected officials remain unconvinced. Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus has taken legal action to oppose the purchase, while local residents have expressed concerns over the potential impact on public safety and the treatment of undocumented immigrants.
Ryan notes that his constituents are "sickened" by the idea of law-abiding citizens being detained without due process, citing instances where people have been removed from their homes and communities with little warning. The congressman's comments highlight the strong opposition to the proposed facility, with many community members saying they will not stand idly by while ICE increases its presence in their area.
The backlash against the proposal has been swift, with over 10,000 people signing a petition in just one week. This unified response from the community suggests that concerns over ICE's plans may be widespread and deeply ingrained, making it likely that the proposed facility will face significant resistance in the coming weeks and months.
Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley, has circulated a petition calling on the administration to reconsider its decision. Over 10,000 people have signed the petition so far, with many expressing their opposition to the facility citing concerns over community safety and the potential for detention centers.
The proposed facility would be a significant increase in ICE's physical presence in the New York City area, which has largely avoided the level of immigration enforcement seen in other major cities during President Donald Trump's second term. The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that the facility will not be used as a detention center, but several news outlets have reported on plans for "processing sites" across the country.
Despite this, many community members and elected officials remain unconvinced. Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus has taken legal action to oppose the purchase, while local residents have expressed concerns over the potential impact on public safety and the treatment of undocumented immigrants.
Ryan notes that his constituents are "sickened" by the idea of law-abiding citizens being detained without due process, citing instances where people have been removed from their homes and communities with little warning. The congressman's comments highlight the strong opposition to the proposed facility, with many community members saying they will not stand idly by while ICE increases its presence in their area.
The backlash against the proposal has been swift, with over 10,000 people signing a petition in just one week. This unified response from the community suggests that concerns over ICE's plans may be widespread and deeply ingrained, making it likely that the proposed facility will face significant resistance in the coming weeks and months.
it's not just about immigration reform or detention centers, it's about respect for human rights & dignity... we gotta stand up against systems that target vulnerable communities 
the petition signing numbers are crazy, but i think it's just the tip of the iceberg 
the thing is, i feel like we're already living in a society where people are pretty scared of who gets to be on their side... ICE coming in, it's just another example of how everyone's anxiety levels can get super high when you see stuff that makes them think their rights or loved ones might be taken away... 
i mean, we need to have this convo about what's really important - like, is this facility even gonna help with immigration? 
or is it just a way for the gov to show off its tough stance on... whatever? 
10k signatures in one week? that's wild 
just saying
and now rep pat ryan has made a petition for them to reconsider... good on him!!! 
over 10k people have already signed it which is insane! but seriously how can we let this happen?! our community should be safe, not some place where ppl are detained without due process 
i mean ice says its not gonna be a detention center but come on who believes that?!
. I get where they're trying to enforce laws and all, but detention centres just feel so... harsh. And what about due process, you know? People need time to figure out their status and stuff before being locked up 
, and it's awesome that all these people in Chester are coming together to show they won't stand for it 
... can't have a big centre ruining our community vibes 
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. And let's be real, who doesn't know someone who knows someone who's been affected by ICE's policies? It's like, personal for most of us.
. I'm all for border control and security, but at what cost?
, and I'm all about calling out ICE for their questionable motives. We need more people like Rep Ryan and Neuhaus speaking out against this kind of thing. Let's keep the pressure on! 
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ICE shouldnt just be able to billygoose around detaining ppl w/o due process, thats like basic human rights 101 
pat ryan is doin good work here btw 
. Anyone else think it's kinda convenient that Representative Ryan is suddenly an expert on due process? 
. As someone who's lived in the NYC area for years, I can see how this would be a huge deal for our community. I mean, we're already a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds – the last thing we need is more agents patrolling our streets looking for people to "process". 
