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Residents urge Morris County to back Roxbury’s opposition to planned ICE facility; commissioners voice support but take no formal vote
Summary
Speakers at the Morris County meeting urged commissioners to join Roxbury Township’s unanimous resolution opposing a proposed ICE facility that commenters said would hold about 1,500 people; a commissioner expressed board support but no county resolution was adopted at the meeting.
Two members of the public asked the Morris County Board of County Commissioners to join a neighboring municipality in opposing a planned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.
Gary Colucci, who identified himself as Mine Hill Township council president, asked the commissioners to adopt a county resolution aligning with a unanimous Roxbury Township council vote opposing an ICE facility near Route 46 that, he said, is expected to house about 1,500 people. “I think it would be nice if the Morris County government itself would join in Roxbury in their unanimous vote for a resolution opposing this,” Colucci said.
Miles Gilmore, a newly elected Chatham Borough council member and retired lieutenant colonel, spoke next. Gilmore criticized ICE tactics recently used in Morris County as “excessive” and a source of “great collateral damage” and asked commissioners to consider either a formal protest of ICE tactics or, at a minimum, to consider a resolution supporting Roxbury’s position.
After public comment concluded, a commissioner told colleagues that they supported Roxbury’s resolution and the concerns raised by speakers, and said the issue would resonate in many towns across Morris County. The transcript does not record a motion, second or formal vote by the board to adopt a county resolution at this meeting.
Because the matter involves federal detention policy and local land-use concerns, county officials who consider a formal resolution would be making a political statement to federal authorities rather than altering federal actions. The commenters stated Roxbury’s action was unanimous and urged county-level solidarity; the board voiced informal support but took no formal action during the session.
The board moved on to approve routine resolutions and payments before adjourning.
