Maine U.S. House Rep. Chellie Pingree wants the federal government to halt plans to open a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency facility planned for Scarborough.The First District Democrat says local officials are fielding concerns about the proposed facility's location near a veterans’ health center.
"I think there was a lot of concern about some veterans coming in for care maybe sort of triggered by some of the activities going on there,” Pingree says. “It's a quasi sort of police operation. And it's not really clear what they're doing there."
Pingree says there was little or no communication from the federal agency to local government officials about the facility's opening.
Pingree sent a letter Monday to the General Services Administration requesting that plans to open the facility be put on hold until more is known about its purpose. Pingree says the agency also needs to reach out to local stakeholders, including Scarborough residents. "It's not very clear what exactly is going to go on there and how it will impact surrounding facilities.”
The ICE facility is planned for a new business park under development in Scarborough. Pingree is urging the GSA to put the plan on hold until the local community can weigh in on the decision.
The agency is not required to consider community perspectives prior to going ahead with its plan.