Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, speaks at the border with Mexico, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Nogales, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)
"I am directing state agency heads to assess all available actions to protect the community’s infrastructure, public safety, health, and long-term economic stability—including review of permitting requirements; water and sewer demands; hazardous waste disposal; and the availability of emergency medical services, among other considerations."
He added that Annapolis still seeks to work with the Trump administration on areas they can find common ground such as economic opportunity, crime and infrastructure, and noted that Maryland has a long history of being a federal partner, housing the headquarters of NASA-Goddard, USDA, NSA, NIH, as well as installations like Fort George Meade and Andrews Air Force Base.
"We urge the administration to move past unilateral actions and join us in a transparent and collaborative effort to enhance the safety and well-being of Marylanders."
Moore also criticized Noem’s refusal to grant FEMA funds for Maryland Panhandle communities ravaged by 2025 flooding from Georges Creek and the Potomac River.
In recent comments to Fox News Digital, former GOP state Del. Neil Parrott — who long represented the area where the ICE site sits — countered that it was Maryland Democrats’ posture toward the Trump administration that squandered the opportunity to get FEMA funds for his area.
Additionally, Total Wine billionaire David Trone – running for his prior U.S. House seat in the area where the future detention center will be – filmed a video outside its property saying DHS is "literally executing people on the streets."
"We know one thing, we don't need another ICE prison here or anywhere else in America," Trone said.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore in Annapolis, Maryland, on February 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
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Meanwhile, just across the Potomac River from the site, West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey told Fox News Digital that the collective outrage over the new ICE center is a "representation of the generalized idiocy of most of the Democrats in Congress, who have sat on their hands for the last 25 years and done nothing about the very immigration laws that they're very angry about being enforced."
To the south, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., echoed some of Moore's concerns this week, saying in a statement that he spoke directly with Noem about concerns over a proposed ICE facility near the border with Tennessee.
"I relayed to her the opposition of local elected and zoning officials as well as economic development concerns. I appreciate her for agreeing to look elsewhere," he said of the planned transformation of a Byhalia warehouse -- which he said he "strongly oppose[s]."
"I am all for immigration enforcement, but this site was meant for economic development and job creation. We cannot suddenly flood Byhalia with an influx of up to 10,000 detainees," Wicker said.
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/wes-moore-warns-noem-federal-occupation-new-ice-compound-now-under-state-investigation