CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE BLASTS DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ICE DETENTION CELLS IN DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle condemned the Trump administration’s, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), and Customs and Border Patrol’s (CBP) decision to move forward with plans to construct ICE detention holding cells inside the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building in downtown Rochester, despite overwhelming concern from local leaders and the community.

After demanding answers from federal officials earlier this year, Congressman Morelle received confirmation that the project will proceed, along with what Morelle described as “completely unacceptable” responses from the agencies involved.

“The federal government ignored our community, dodged basic questions, and decided to move forward with this project anyway. The answers we received were evasive, insulting to the people of Rochester, and refused to address concerns about the impact this facility will have on families and children who use this building every day,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “This is Donald Trump’s immigration agenda brought directly into the heart of downtown Rochester. His administration has made clear they don’t believe this community deserves a voice in the process—and Rochester residents have every right to be outraged. I will continue fighting this reckless decision every step of the way.”

Senator Schumer said, “The Trump administration is moving ahead like a bull in a China shop with a bad plan to house a CBP detention facility in downtown Rochester with zero support or input from the courts and the Rochester community. This is not the right building for this kind of operation. They are denying Rochester a voice and hiding answers to basic questions about what will happen at this facility. No more secrecy, no more decisions behind closed doors, stop this plan and let the community make their voices heard.”

According to the response from DHS, the project will include multiple detention holding areas, secure detainee transfer zones, expanded perimeter fencing, anti-scale security infrastructure, and restricted-access parking areas inside and around the federal building. Construction is expected to begin later this month on May 23 and continue for more than a year, with Trump administration officials confirming they do not intend to delay the project for public comment or local input.

You can read Morelle, Schumer, and Gillibrand’s original letter to DHS here.

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