Local officials in Orange County addressed growing community concerns Monday night following reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be considering a new facility in the town of Chester.

Residents packed a village board meeting to voice fears and opposition, even though officials confirmed no formal plans or permit applications for such a facility have been submitted. The unusually large turnout forced organizers to relocate the meeting to a bigger venue, with attendees lining up outside in the cold to speak.

“To think of them opening something like this in a town I’ve lived in my entire life is frightening,” said Milo Shaw-Smith Gendelman, a resident of neighboring Warwick. “It’s scary and deeply unsettling.”

Speculation centers on a vacant warehouse in Chester, where ICE has reportedly filed a notice of activity due to the property’s location in a flood plain. While no official proposal has been filed, the possibility alone has sparked anxiety across the region.

“I’m grateful to see so many people standing up for their neighbors,” said Chester resident Veronica Mott.

Local leaders also weighed in. Poughkeepsie City Council member Daniel Atonna warned that if such a facility were to open, it could affect communities across the Hudson Valley.

“If this facility opens, thousands of people could be taken from across the region and brought here,” Atonna said. “That’s why we all need to speak out.”

During the meeting, Chester’s mayor reiterated that the village board has received no permit requests or confirmed development plans. Still, residents were invited to share their concerns.

“You can hear the anguish in this room,” said Chester resident and civil rights attorney Michael Sussman. “People are worried about what this could mean for our community. I hope decision-makers in Washington are listening.”