Is an immigration detention facility opening up in Roxbury?

There's been confusion among state and local leaders after conflicting reports came from the Department of Homeland Security as to whether they purchased a warehouse in Roxbury to turn it into a detention facility.

On Wednesday, Gothamist reported that DHS did in fact confirm it had purchased a warehouse to convert it into a detention facility.

But Roxbury Mayor Sean Petillo told us that DHS sent him a correction, saying the original statement was issued without proper approval and that no facility was purchased in the town.

The owner of a vacant warehouse on Route 46 that ICE scouted last month also told the town there's no contract in place with any prospective buyer.

The issue first came to light when the Morris County town showed up on a list of DHS potential locations in December.

Elected officials from both parties have raised concerns about warehouses being an inappropriate space to house detainees.

A DHS spokesperson told NJ Spotlight News in a statement, quote, "We have no new detention centers to announce at this time.

These will not be warehouses.

They will be very well-structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards."

Now, State Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco has said the township is not the only place where the warehouse is being used.

The township's council, which is made up of all Republicans, also passed an ordinance opposing any ICE facility within their borders, but it's unlikely they'll have the authority to stop such a move from the federal government.