There’s controversy in Hyattsville, Maryland, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seeks to expand its office space near the Mall at Prince George’s.
A rally is scheduled Friday opposing the expansion.
ICE said the office will not be a detention center. The agency already leases office space on Belcrest Road. Two weeks ago, the county issued a permit for them to expand the space in the same building.
In February, Prince George’s County said they would not allow any ICE detention centers in the area. But the office space change is still causing uproar.
Community members have made clear for months that they don’t want ICE in their community.
County leaders tell News4 that on July 16, before issuing a use and occupancy permit for ICE for office space, county officials inspected the space and determined it was not designed to be used as a detention center.
The county said ICE attorneys have operated in the space since 2023 and this month’s permit allows only a limited expansion. The county said it received written assurances from the U.S. General Service Administration on June 23 and ICE on July 26 that the space would not be used for a detention center.
News4 obtained letters that detail both agencies acknowledging the county’s guidance and saying no detainees or prisoners will be present or held within the facility.
The city of Hyattsville said they were made aware of the permit approval and said city staff and police do not participate in immigration enforcement.
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