Shouts erupted during Tuesday’s Town of Newburgh Town Board meeting as tensions over a proposed federal immigration detention facility boiled over, with residents demanding more action from officials as the town continued weighing its legal options.

The disruption came at the beginning of the meeting, when residents criticized the board’s response to the proposed facility at 800 Corporate Boulevard and declared that residents would no longer remain silent. Others in the room interrupted the remarks before the Town of Newburgh Police escorted the residents out.

The confrontation followed social media calls for residents on both sides of the issue to attend the meeting, adding to tensions over the federal government’s plans for the property.

Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio said the town was reviewing its legal options based on resident-submitted suggestions, but federal officials had yet to provide information about their plans for the property.

“Every email we receive with suggestions and ideas regarding the ICE facility has been forwarded to our legal advisors,” Piaquadio said. “They have reviewed these suggestions and are evaluating which options may be viable while minimizing potential legal challenges.”

He said the agency has rented office space in the Town of Newburgh for more than a decade, near Route 17K and Stewart Airport.

“Is it simply relocation, or is there additional housing to it?” Piaquadio said. “Unfortunately, the federal government has not shared any information with the town regarding its plans.”

He added that the town’s Building Department had not received any applications related to the property.

No other Town Board members addressed the proposed facility during the meeting. Councilmember Mary McLymore was absent.

The town previously adopted a resolution opposing the proposed facility and retained The West Law Firm to explore potential legal measures.

During public comment, Christopher Wise, a local resident and Army veteran, warned that the proposed ICE facility could negatively affect nearby property values, discourage investment and place additional demands on local police.
“Our town’s commercial zones should be used for safe, stable businesses that uplift our economy, not high-risk federal operations such as this facility,” Wise said.

Megan Galbraith, a City of Newburgh resident who said she had attended four meetings since July, urged officials to hold a public hearing and return with recommendations in November.

“I would urge you to not continue to stall on this,” Galbraith said. “The public needs to understand what our representatives stand for.”

The debate came amid federal contracting activity that has raised additional questions about immigration enforcement operations in Newburgh.

A Sept. 25 General Services Administration contract award to Cotter Consulting LLC, a Chicago-based construction management firm, identified Newburgh as the location of a $172,825 award. The Department of Homeland Security is listed as the funding agency and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the funding sub-agency. The award extends through May 14, 2027, although no street address or connection to 800 Corporate Boulevard is listed.

Pearl Johnson, a Town of Newburgh resident acknowledged the town’s efforts during public comment and questioned the potential consequences of expanded immigration enforcement in the community.

Johnson acknowledged the town’s efforts to explore legal options but urged officials to continue working to prevent the proposed facility from operating.
“We’re calling on you folks to stand with the people of this community in making sure that no one is suffering in our community, whether it’s through an ICE patrol going through the neighborhood, or a community center, or an ICE center, detention center, concentration camp, whatever you want to call it, they don’t follow the rules, and people are suffering in those centers,” Johnson said.