The whole timbre of federalese, whether in court filings or social media responses, has taken on this sort of sneering, smarmy affect that can only be described as ‘Trumpian.’
If you work in gov comms/PR and got updated style guides in the last year, you can reach me on Signal: Michael.7395 👀
While Judge Hurson’s decision on the preliminary injunction will not resolve the case, it will determine whether ICE can continue preparing the site while the lawsuit proceeds — or whether the project is paused during further review.
ICE argues there is no “imminent harm” because detention construction has not yet begun.
Maryland argues the project is already in motion and harm is unavoidable.
Maryland also challenges ICE’s use of narrow regulatory exemptions to avoid a full environmental review.
It argues the project must be evaluated as a whole, rather than broken into smaller parts to qualify for limited review.
The filing also disputes ICE’s claim that the project will have minimal environmental impact.
Maryland says existing sewer and water infrastructure cannot support even the smaller proposed population without upgrades or failures.
That discrepancy is key.
Maryland argues ICE cannot rely on a smaller “initial capacity” to justify limited environmental review while planning for a significantly larger facility.
The state also challenges ICE’s description of the project as a 542-bed facility.
It points to ICE’s own documents, which indicate the site could ultimately house far more detainees and may be expanded to as many as 1,500 or more.
Maryland responds that this pause is not binding and could be lifted at any time.
In its filing, the state argues the delay “could lift at any moment, in secret and without warning,” potentially before the court rules on the merits.
Last week, ICE told the court it is pausing detention-related construction while it conducts additional environmental review and reconsiders the project’s scope.
That argument is central to its effort to avoid a preliminary injunction.
🧵 A new court filing from Maryland dropped today, a direct rebuttal to ICE’s claim that it is “reconsidering” plans for a detention facility at the Williamsport warehouse.
Here’s what the state argues, and what it means for the case.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Not to say they AREN’T spending — just this week, they renewed multiple multi-million dollar CoreCivic and GEO Group contracts for existing detention centers, as well as awarding detainee transportation contracts in the Northeast.
Bulk spending on ICE’s non-training, non-operations & maintenance spending is also down since February.
In Q4CY2025, ICE was spending millions a month on advanced spyware, vehicles, IT/AI, etc. That trend collapsed in Q1CY2026.
He still needs to be removed from office. A war powers resolution will not suffice. He circumvented Congress to start the war. He circumvented them on tariffs and appropriations. Why anyone thinks he'd adhere to a Congressional war powers resolution is beyond me.
There are two other reads of this we can consider. Both are equally vile.
1. This is a set-up for some Polymarket manipulation
2. He’s threatening genocide to scare Iran into concession
Both of those are unbecoming the office of the president and in any sane world would be grounds for removal.
This is outside our normal DHS contracting 'beat,' however: we cannot in good conscience ignore the fact that the president is threatening to exterminate an entire country. This is genocidal and evil. The time is RIGHT NOW for congress to act.
Just in case anyone thought the new DHS secretary would be any different than the last... it's vengeance politics as usual under Mullin.
A heavily redacted document describing ICE’s requirements for digital forensic and encrypted device exploitation tools.
ICE is requesting quotes to expand its arsenal of “digital forensics” tools — software and hardware that allow their HSI agents to access encrypted devices. This (heavily redacted) RFQ closes out April 10. ICE paid $13 million in FY25 for Cellebrite tools and training.
I’ve never been happier to be out of the loop.
Yep… Pulled from their X account.
Hey Baltimore PD — what’s the takeaway here?
Also -- the WSO might be Jesus!
DHS repeatedly said that an aggressive apartment raid in Chicago last fall was prompted by intel on a gang takeover.
Documents show the real story behind the raid was to target alleged squatters — with the landlord's blessing.
(Published Feb.)
"Ms. Ramos is a devout Christian who teaches Sunday school to children at her church, Ms. Rickling said. She was in her high school’s marching band. And she was a few months from finishing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry."
Clearly, the 'worst of the worst.'
Every congressperson on this or any other site wringing their hands over how unhinged and dangerous Trump’s post is, remember:
You have a power and a position — thus a responsibility — to act upon those concerns.
Ratioing the president doesn’t resolve his official instability or unsuitability.
Bottom line: keep up the pressure!
This is a court filing, after all, not a policy announcement.
ICE is a litigant trying to avoid an injunction. The document is written to poke holes in the State’s claims and show there’s no imminent harm right now — which helps them in court.
The key phrase in the filing is “initial capacity.”
The warehouse is 825,000 sq ft.
540 beds would use only a fraction of that space, as we covered yesterday.
This strongly suggests a phased project — start smaller, expand later, and avoid injunctive action today.
