Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that the state has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop construction of a new federal immigration detention center in Washington County. The facility, planned at a cost of more than $100 million, would convert a 54 acre warehouse into a center capable of holding up to 1,500 people.

State officials argue that the federal government moved forward without conducting an environmental review or allowing for public input. Governor Wes Moore said residents must have a voice in decisions affecting their health, safety and communities, adding that the Department of Homeland Security should be held to the same legal standards as other federal agencies.

County officials have said the federal government was not required to seek local zoning approval, limiting the county’s ability to block the project. The lawsuit comes as the administration plans to significantly expand immigration detention nationwide, increasing overall bed capacity and drawing criticism from lawmakers in both major political parties.

Four Democratic members of Congress also announced plans to introduce legislation that would require written approval from state and local officials before any new immigration processing or detention facility can be built or operated.