ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ball today announced that the County director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits (DILP) revoked the building permit for a privately-owned detention facility located in Elkridge. The permit revocation was based on state law which requires private immigration detention centers to meet certain notice and public hearing requirements. Photos from the announcement can be seen on the County’s Flickr page.
Our strength comes from people of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences choosing to call this place home. And, I believe, deeply and unequivocally, that the civil rights of all our residents must be protected. We will continue to stand firm against any criminalization of our residents based on immigration status, race, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristic under our laws.
Recent reporting and leasing advertisements indicate the 28,614 sq ft of office space in Elkridge is intended for occupancy by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Pursuant to The Annotated Code of Maryland – Correctional Services Code § 1-101 and § 1-102, Howard County has reason to believe that the facility under renovation at 6522 Meadowridge Road appears to meet the definition of an “immigration detention facility” as defined by State Code. State law includes certain public notice and hearing requirements that must be met for private immigration detention facilities.
Pursuant to §105.6 of the Howard County Building Code, DILP is "authorized to suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this code wherever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provision of this code." As such, DILP has revoked the building permit in order to halt construction of the facility on February 2, 2026.
The revocation of the building permit follows Ball’s submission of emergency legislation, Council Bill 16-2026, with the County Council to prohibit the permitting of privately-owned buildings operating as detention centers in Howard County.
This legislation follows the County’s inspection of a privately-owned office building located at 6522 Meadowridge Road in Elkridge. A third-party permitting company known as McKeever Services, located in Fairfax, VA, applied for and received a permit to renovate 28,614 square feet within an existing building. The building is owned by Genesis GSA Strategic One, LLC.
The building permit was issued on August 5, 2025, with the following description of work: “General Services Administration/scope of work includes improvement of tenant spaces support areas, detention facility, detainee processing and secured waiting area.” County inspections indicate much of the work covered by the permit is nearing completion. The most recent inspection was on December 29, 2025, and passed with conditions for additional inspections that would be required before any Use and Occupancy certificate could be issued.
The creation of privately-owned detention facilities raises serious concerns about public health, safety, welfare, and oversight that must be addressed. Ball’s legislation outlines that allowing a private entity to own or operate a detention facility will negatively impact the health, safety, and welfare of Howard County.
Furthermore, the proposed detention center sits in an existing office park in Elkridge, in close proximity to healthcare providers, schools, parks, and neighborhoods. The proposed facility is located within a one-mile radius of the following community destinations:
- Deep Run Elementary School
- Mayfield Woods Middle School
- Waterloo Park
- Troy Park
- Timbers at Troy Golf Course
- Gateway Overlook Shopping Center
- Ascension Saint Agnes Primary Care Elkridge
- Tarbiyah Academy
- Howard County Government Bureau of Highways' Mayfield Shop
The siting of a detention facility near these locations raises additional serious and legitimate concerns about community safety, public health, welfare, and quality of life.
The County Council will consider the introduction of the emergency legislation during its legislative session tonight, Monday, February 2nd, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The public will be able to provide verbal testimony during a Public Hearing this Wednesday, February 4 starting at 6:00 p.m. Written testimony can be submitted via email to councilmail@howardcountymd.gov.
Additionally today, the County issued county-wide guidance to all Howard County Government employees with guidelines on how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials enter County property. Among the guidelines include contacting your supervisor if ICE visits County property, asking to read the judicial warrant or request a copy, and documenting the name and badge number of the ICE agents. The guidelines emphasize employees are to never obstruct or interfere with ICE.
In 2020, the Howard County Council passed the Liberty Act, which prohibits the use of County resources for immigration enforcement unless it is required by federal or state law, an international treaty, or an existing intergovernmental service agreement.