ICE Reverses Course on Reported Chester Detention Center Purchase

By Y.M. Lowy

Days after federal officials confirmed plans to open a large ICE detention center in Chester, just minutes from Kiryas Joel, the agency is now walking that statement back.

As reported on DailyMonroe, ICE had said it purchased a warehouse at 29 Elizabeth Drive in the Chester Industrial Park and planned to convert it into a facility that could process up to 1,500 detainees. That announcement quickly sparked strong reactions across Orange County.

Now, ICE says the purchase never happened. In a new statement, an agency spokesperson said ICE has not purchased a facility in Chester and that the earlier confirmation was sent without proper approval, calling it a mistake that has since been corrected.

The updated statement did not explain how the original confirmation was issued or clarify whether the property is still being considered. ICE did add that it continues to conduct enforcement operations nationwide and is working to expand detention capacity.

The reversal has added to the confusion locally. No sale documents have been filed with the Orange County Clerk’s Office, which would typically record a transaction of that size shortly after closing.

Chester Town officials say they were never formally notified about a purchase. The town supervisor said the back-and-forth raises concerns about communication and transparency, adding that the town has repeatedly reached out to federal authorities without response.

At this point, it is unclear whether the Chester site is still under consideration or if the plan has been shelved entirely.