Weiser sues DHS, ICE to stop immigration center in Hudson
The facility also raises other questions of environmental harm, he said, including air quality, emissions and construction traffic.
Official response and confirmed impact
DHS and ICE’s actions violate the federal National Environmental Policy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and the Immigration and Nationality Act, Weiser added.
Weiser noted his department has already received 6,000 complaints citing the concerns now raised in the lawsuit, and that’s among the highest number of public complaints they’ve ever gotten on any matter.
Incident under investigation
The lawsuit asks the court to cancel the federal government’s contract with the GEO Group.
It also seeks a court order requiring DHS and ICE to prepare the type of environmental impact statement required under NEPA and to ensure they comply with federal immigration law.
In addition, questions remain about whether the underlying infrastructure, roads, drinking water and wastewater treatment will be adequate for the facility.
DHS has previously followed all those requirements with other immigration facilities, Weiser explained. This Hudson facility should not be treated any differently.
It also seeks a preliminary injunction to stop any work on the facility and keep it from being turned into an immigration detention center until the federal government complies with the law.
