Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. Represents Environmental Coalition Challenging Proposed ICE Detention Center in the NJ Highlands
David N. Cinotti, partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., together with co-counsel, is representing a coalition of environmental organizations and Roxbury Township residents in their motion for permission to file an amicus brief in New Jersey federal court in support the State of New Jersey’s effort to halt the conversion of a Roxbury warehouse into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. New Jersey and Roxbury sued the U.S. Department of Homeland security in March 2026 and filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the conversion of the warehouse. The proposed detention center is located within the environmentally sensitive Highlands region, which supplies drinking water to more than 70% of New Jersey residents. The proposed brief argues that DHS failed to conduct required environmental reviews or consult with local authorities, and that transforming the site into a large, round‑the‑clock detention facility would dramatically increase pollution, sewage output, water use, and public health risks near protected wetlands, waterways, and conserved habitat.
The proposed amici include concerned residents of the Roxbury Community, the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, the Skylands Preservation Alliance, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Hackensack Riverkeeper, the Climate Revolution Action Network, the New Jersey Environmental Lobby, Action Together New Jersey, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
In addition to Cinotti, co-counsel for the proposed amici include Susan Kraham, Dror Ladin and Casandia Bellevue of Earthjustice, and Renée Steinhagen of the New Jersey Appleseed Public Interest Law Center.
To learn more about the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center, click here.
To read the full Law360 article, click here.
