U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle has introduced the Respect Our Communities (ROC) Act, continuing his fight against President Donald Trump’s plan to place ICE detention cells inside the Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building in downtown Rochester.
This new legislation seeks to prevent the federal government from “constructing or operating new ICE or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) detention facilities without public transparency, community input, and approval from state and local leaders.”
“When the Trump administration pushed this project into downtown Rochester without listening to the community, they made it clear they don’t believe local voices matter,” said Morelle, a Democrat representing New York’s 25th Congressional District. “The ROC Act is about restoring transparency, accountability, and respect for the communities forced to live with these decisions. Rochester deserved a voice in this process, and every community across America deserves the same.”
According to Morelle, the ROC Act would compel the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal agencies to provide public notice, open a public comment period, complete environmental and economic impact reviews, secure approval from state and local elected officials, and notify Congress before moving forward with any new immigration detention facility.
“The Trump administration has denied Rochester any voice on what is being built in its own downtown. The community doesn’t want this, and it is unacceptable to put a Border Patrol detention facility in the same building as a federal courthouse and a daycare,” said U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. “No more secrecy, no more decisions behind closed doors. I’m proud to support Congressman Morelle’s bill to hold the Trump administration accountable and stop ICE and CBP from ignoring local leaders and let the community make their voices heard.”
Morelle said he recently received confirmation that the federal government is proceeding with project. Construction is expected to begin later this month and continue for more than a year.
