UPDATE: New reports confirm that ICE is considering the historic Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island as a potential site for detaining immigrants, sparking immediate backlash from local officials. The New York Times reports that federal authorities visited the former military installation overlooking New York Bay last week to assess its suitability for temporary immigrant detention.
Concerns are mounting as local leaders voice their opposition. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, stated, “The site is not suitable to house migrants,” emphasizing its historical and strategic importance for U.S. Coast Guard operations. She has communicated her concerns to officials in the Trump administration, asserting that the community does not anticipate any such plans moving forward.
While the future of Fort Wadsworth as a possible detention center remains uncertain, the implications of this consideration are significant. Currently, most immigrants arrested by ICE in NYC are processed in Lower Manhattan before being transferred to detention facilities located in New Jersey, upstate New York, or Pennsylvania. New York City lacks any long-term ICE-run detention centers, a situation that could change if plans to utilize Fort Wadsworth proceed.
The 226-acre federal property is presently home to U.S. Coast Guard housing and offices. In recent months, ICE has been expanding its detention capacity in the region, including arrangements for more than 100 detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and up to 50 at Nassau County jail on Long Island. Notably, New York City has not had a major immigration detention center since the closure of the Varick Street Detention Facility in 2010, which housed as many as 250 immigrants.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, have not confirmed any plans for Fort Wadsworth. Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the agency, declined to comment on the situation when approached by the New York Times.
As discussions continue, the potential impact on local communities cannot be overlooked. This developing situation raises questions about the future of immigration enforcement in the New York City area and the capacity to accommodate detainees. Residents and officials alike are urged to stay informed as this story evolves.
Stay tuned for updates as we monitor the situation surrounding ICE’s potential plans for Fort Wadsworth.
