Stephen Krasner Opposes Proposed ICE Facility in Town of Newburgh: “Residents Deserve Answers, Transparency, and Leadership”

Town of Newburgh, NY — Stephen Krasner, candidate for Town of Newburgh Supervisor, released the following statement regarding reports of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 800 Corporate Boulevard:

“The recent reports regarding plans for an ICE facility in the Town of Newburgh are deeply concerning. Let me be clear: I oppose bringing this type of facility into our community.

The Town of Newburgh’s future should be focused on responsible economic development, strengthening neighborhoods, supporting families, and improving quality of life — not becoming the location of a controversial federal detention operation.

While I appreciate those who have now spoken out against this proposal, residents deserve more than statements after information becomes public. They deserve transparency, accountability, and a complete understanding of how we arrived at this point.

Town officials have stated they only learned about this proposal on June 30, 2026, when it became public through media reports. While it is possible the federal government never formally notified local leaders, recently uncovered information raises serious questions that deserve answers.

According to public reporting, this was not a process that began days or weeks ago. Federal records indicate this lease process dates back significantly further, involved more than 42,000 square feet of space, a 15-year commitment valued at approximately $35.5 million, and included specialized requirements reportedly connected to secure federal operations.

A project of this size does not happen overnight.

That raises important questions:

• When did anyone connected to Town government first become aware that this property was being considered for this purpose?

• Given that federal records connected to this project reportedly existed long before the lease was finalized, was anyone monitoring potential major federal developments occurring within our community?

• Were there any inquiries, site evaluations, inspections, construction discussions, permit questions, zoning reviews, emergency service discussions, or communications involving this property?

• Were any Town departments contacted regarding infrastructure, utilities, public safety, traffic, building modifications, or other operational needs?

• What approvals, if any, are still required before this facility can become operational?

• And most importantly — what concrete steps will Town leadership take now to address and prevent this facility from becoming a reality?

This is not about making accusations. It is about accountability.

If Town Hall truly had no knowledge that a major federal facility was being planned in our community for more than a year, residents deserve to understand how that happened.

And if there were opportunities to identify concerns earlier, residents deserve to understand that as well.

Leadership is not simply responding once a controversy becomes public. Leadership means being engaged, asking difficult questions, staying ahead of issues, and ensuring residents are never the last ones brought into the conversation.

The people of Newburgh deserve a Town Hall that is proactive, transparent, and willing to fight for the future of our community.

Our future should be shaped by the residents who call Newburgh home.”

— Stephen Krasner, Candidate for Town of Newburgh Supervisor

Timeline: Proposed ICE Facility — 800 Corporate Boulevard, Town of Newburgh

April 2024 — Federal Search Begins

Document: GSA Pre-Solicitation / Contract Opportunity

Notice ID: 2NY0894

Public Location: SAM.gov (federal contracting portal)

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) begins the process seeking space in the Newburgh area.

Documents reportedly identified the search area around Stewart Airport and described the need for “office and related space.” Reporting indicates attached materials included references connecting the search area to ICE Newburgh/Stewart Airport.  

Question raised: If a federal agency was publicly seeking a significant facility in Newburgh beginning in 2024, was anyone at the local level monitoring major federal procurement activity involving the Town?

June 2025 — Formal Request for Lease Proposal

Document: Request for Lease Proposal (RLP)

Notice ID: 2NY0894

Public Location: SAM.gov

GSA reportedly issues additional leasing documents.

The solicitation included specialized requirements, including:

• ·  Level III federal security standards
• ·  secured parking
• ·  24-hour government access
• ·  emergency power
• ·  a sally port/secure garage capable of handling government vehicles, including “detainee buses and vans”  

Question raised: Were these requirements reviewed by anyone locally, especially given the unusual nature of the facility specifications?

October 2025 — ICE Connection Reportedly Appears

Document: Amendment File

Filename: “2NY0894 ICE Newburgh - RLP Amendment No 1 10232025 (1) (1) (1).pdf”

Public Location: SAM.gov 

According to reporting, a document was briefly posted with a filename specifically referencing ICE Newburgh before being replaced with a more generic title. The underlying solicitation reportedly remained public.  

Question raised: At this point, there appears to have been a public indicator connecting the project to ICE months before the lease award. Who, if anyone locally, became aware?

May 12, 2026 — Public Reporting Connects Documents to ICE

Source: Project Salt Box investigation

Project Salt Box publishes reporting connecting the federal solicitation to ICE-related facility requirements and the prior filename history.  

Question raised: Once the information entered the public domain, did any Town department, official, or representative become aware or investigate?

June 24, 2026 — Lease Awarded

Document: GSA Lease Award

Recipient: Leverage Enterprises Inc.

Location: 800 Corporate Boulevard, Newburgh

Federal records show the lease was awarded:

• ·  approximately 42,377 rentable square feet
• ·  approximately 15-year term
• ·  approximately $35.5 million value  

Question raised: Were any local reviews, permits, inspections, zoning discussions, emergency service considerations, or infrastructure conversations triggered before or after the award?

June 25, 2026 — Award Posted Publicly

Document: GSA Award Notice

Public Location: Federal contracting records

The award information reportedly becomes publicly available.  

Question raised: Was anyone within Town government tracking federal awards involving major properties inside the Town of Newburgh?

June 30–July 3, 2026 — Public Awareness & Media Coverage

Project Salt Box, News 12, and other outlets report the lease and possible ICE facility.

Town officials state they learned about the project through public reporting and were not contacted directly by the federal government.