Holdridge Leads Chester's Battle Against ICE Concentration Camp
Chester Town Supervisor Brandon Holdridge is leading the charge among local elected officials of all parties against the planned ICE facility at 29 Elizabeth Drive.
Howdy.
USUALLY the podcast is for paid subscribers only. But. Because of the interest in what’s happening at 29 Elizabeth Drive in the Village of Chester, I’m making it free for everyone. We’ll be doing more videos like this in the future only for subscribers. So if you’d like to help us meet our goal of 500 new paid annual subscribers by December 31st, you can do so by pressing the big blue button below.
If you want to get involved in sending an ICE Scraper to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus — in order to protest his refusal to terminate the ICE/DHS contract with Orange County and his refusal to sign legislation banning for profit prisons and detention centers in Orange County — directions and the email you can send is here. There’s also a script to use to call Schumer and Gillibrand.
(The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.)
We’re All One Chester
BJ (00:00): Hey Brandon, thank you so much for joining us today. There are a lot of people who don’t know who you are and who are probably going to see this. I mean, I’ve known you for over a year, so I feel comfortable calling you Brandon; I should be calling you Supervisor Holdridge. Why don’t you take a moment to introduce yourself for those watching this for the first time and meeting you for the first time?
Brandon Holdridge (00:14) Yes, I’m Brandon Holdridge. I’m the town supervisor of Chester, New York. I’m also the vice chair of campaigns on the Orange County Democratic Committee, and I’m the co-chair of the Chester Democratic Committee here in the great town of Chester. That’s it.
BJ (00:27) This is the end of your first term in office, is that right?
Brandon Holdridge (00:31): Yes, this is my third year of my first term. My term ends at the end of next year, so I’ll be running for re-election next year.
BJ (00:34): Okay, we’re going to talk about that as well. But first, I’ve noticed there’s a lot of confusion between the town of Chester and the village of Chester in the national media. At a high level, can you explain the difference between the town and the village and what role the town does or can play concerning what I call the concentration camp at 29 Elizabeth Drive?
Brandon Holdridge (00:56) Sure. The town and the village are two separate entities; they’re two separate municipalities and governments. The village of Chester has about 4,000 people, an elected mayor, and a board of trustees made up of five members. They have their own police department, street department, building codes, zoning codes, planning board, zoning board, etc.
The town, on the other hand, has its own government, town supervisor, and a town board made up of four council members plus me, making five. We have our own police department, building department, planning board, zoning board, etc. The town includes the village, so village residents are also town residents. They vote in town elections. Altogether, we’re about 13,000 people strong. However, town residents do not vote in village elections. So village residents have the unique position of voting in both. If you’re just a town resident, you are only a town resident.
In terms of how active the town can be, it’s primarily related to political, PR, and people-power activism. I’ve spoken to the attorney about this a couple of times. The town does not have direct jurisdiction over the proposed facility at the Pep Boys warehouse, which is within the village of Chester. Therefore, it falls under the village’s jurisdiction concerning building, zoning, planning, and environmental matters. However, that doesn’t mean the town couldn’t have indirect standing or possible damages from a facility being placed there.
We would definitely seek to support or sign on to a legal challenge from the village or the county in any way. That would be my stance, at the very least. Of course, we would look to cooperate with our village counterparts in any sort of law enforcement response if the facility were to come and if protesters were to come. We’re all one Chester, so we need to be on the same team.
BJ (02:53) For people who don’t know, New York State has an interesting dynamic regarding town and village relationships. Before all this happened, how would you describe the relationship and interaction between the village and the town of Chester?
Brandon Holdridge (03:05) Cordial and cooperative. We work on things where it makes sense to work together. I’ve made it a point to reach out and be more integrated in a few areas. Those talks are ongoing, and I’m hopeful we can find productive solutions for our residents. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about—making sure our residents are taken care of in the best way possible and at the least cost. If there are ways we can cooperate on a more integrated level, that’s what I’m interested in.
Brian Maher’s “Peace For Our Time” Letter
(Note: This interview was recorded on February 20th, 2026. In the above video, I have the latest update on Assemblyman Brian Maher’s claims about the ICE facility.)
BJ (03:36) As of this morning, because I know this situation has been incredibly fluid, what do we know concerning this property?
Brandon Holdridge (03:45): Right now, as far as we understand, the facility has not yet been purchased. Until a few moments ago, I was under the impression that ICE was still interested in purchasing it, as I hadn’t seen anything confirming otherwise—no actual physical emails, letters, or statements from ICE. That’s something I’ll probably mention a few times: ICE has refused to communicate with anyone on the ground since the beginning of this situation, following the Washington Post story back in December or January when we first learned about this. They have not communicated even once to anyone in the village, town, or, according to the county executive.
So, every piece of information we receive is coming from news outlets, and we’re essentially at their mercy because nothing has been confirmed from ICE. When a news outlet reported something was confirmed about the warehouse being purchased, that turned out to be false, and I believe that spokesperson for ICE was let go. That’s where we stood until this morning.
Moments ago, there was apparently a press release from Assemblyman Brian Maher stating he had spoken with ICE and they confirmed they are no longer interested in purchasing the facility in Chester. That would be amazing news, and I’d be very happy to shake Brian’s hand if that’s the case. However, I’m very much interested in seeing that as an official statement from ICE itself to confirm that this is true. I hope it’s not a mistake and that someone doesn’t get fired and later retract that statement. The incompetence is making it very difficult for us to plan, prepare, and organize; it’s making it very difficult to do our jobs.
BJ (05:39): Yes, New Windsor is a great example of this behind the scenes. I saw a story in Wired reporting that ICE/DHS was looking to open offices in New Windsor. I called around; the town supervisor had no idea. He went over with the building inspector, and it turned out ICE had been operating there since the summer without any communication with anyone. Regarding the letter from Assemblyman Maher...
Brandon Holdridge (05:50) Yes.
BJ (06:06): Not that I doubt it, but we’ve heard from readers that ICE lies. This is something we’ve also repeated. Do you think there’s any credibility to the idea that this isn’t a mistake and that ICE is simply pretending they’re not purchasing while actually moving forward with setting up the facility?
Brandon Holdridge (06:31): I wouldn’t put it past them. I really wouldn’t. I also want to say, I know Brian personally; I don’t think he would put out a statement like this unless he believed he was being told the truth. So I hope he is correct. I’m hoping against everything that he’s right. However, I wouldn’t put it past ICE to play those kinds of games and misdirect people, lulling us into a sense of security before moving forward with the purchase.
[Note: ICE officials told The Monroe Gazette they have no new facilities to announce at this time, when asked about Assemblyman Maher’s letter. They, nor Assemblyman Maher, would clarify who Mr. Maher spoke to from ICE. Whomever this person is, is alleged to have told Maher the concentration camp won’t be opening here.]
BJ (07:04) Just for clarification, because this is something we’ve been asked a lot: as you mentioned in drawing the distinction between the town and the village, the town can’t send building inspectors into 29 Elizabeth Drive; only the village can do that, is that right?
Brandon Holdridge (07:15) Yes, that is correct; it’s only within the jurisdiction of the village.
BJ (07:18): To your knowledge, has that happened?
Brandon Holdridge (07:21): Not to my knowledge; I wouldn’t be able to confirm that. You would have to ask the mayor.
BJ (07:25): Yes, the village of Chester, just for those listening, won’t answer any comments. Everything goes to Brian Nugent, the village attorney, who we’ve written about quite a bit at The Monroe Gazette, and he will simply say “no comment.” So that’s sort of where that stands with the village. I’m hoping your relationship with them is a bit better, and that you’re at least communicating with them, right?
Brandon Holdridge (07:44): Yes, I’ve communicated with them at least once a week, and I’ve also been in contact with the county executive, Congressman Ryan, the assembly’s office, state Senator Skoufis’s office, and I spoke once to Senator Schumer’s office. I’ve been trying to talk to everyone.
BJ (08:12) I’m glad to hear that. I mean, Schumer and Gillibrand in particular have been quite quiet. I understand they’re busy with issues, but Schumer was just in Buffalo this week for a press conference. If he has time to stop in Buffalo, he should also have time to stop in Chester. Just my two cents.
Let me ask you: I think Chester is one of the first town boards to pass a resolution calling for the Assembly and the State Senate to pass the MELT Act. Is that correct?
Brandon Holdridge (08:46) Yes.
BJ (08:47): What has the response been since you passed the resolution?
Brandon Holdridge (08:51): Not much, really. I feel like there were some people online who were supportive, and others who were against it. I think it’s just common sense. We don’t want masked individuals going around that you can’t identify. That’s the basics of living in a democracy. It’s something I believe everyone should be able to get behind.
Unless you are part of SWAT or some other sort of special forces conducting internal operations in the United States, I don’t think you need a mask and I don’t think you should be unidentifiable. We’d like to hold our law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. When you don’t have a badge or a name and wear a mask, you’re making it as hard as possible to hold yourself accountable.
That doesn’t sit well with us.
BJ (09:39) I know there was a discussion about New York for All as well. This brings me to the upcoming election you are running in. What are the implications for this election regarding support for a resolution asking Governor Hochul to pass New York for All, or simply standing up to DHS and ICE? What does this election mean for Chester residents?
Brandon Holdridge (09:57): I think the MELT Act and New York for All probably won’t play a major role in whether someone votes for a candidate here in Chester. The ICE facility is definitely going to be a wedge issue. The majority of people, including Republicans, are against the facility, as are elected officials. I don’t believe there will be any candidate running on the platform of welcoming ICE into our community.
At least, I hope not. I can tell you that everyone on the Democratic ticket, which will be announced in the coming weeks, is against this facility, and they will focus on keeping ICE out of Chester for sure.
2026’s Grossest Question: How Does The Concentration Camp Impact Local Taxpayers?
BJ (10:39): That’s great to hear. There’s a lot of talk about canvassing and going door-to-door in Chester to ensure people are aware of the issue. That’s definitely something for Chester residents to keep in mind. Another thing I wanted to ask about is the impact of this facility being set up in terms of taxes and tax revenue for the town.
Brandon Holdridge (10:45): Yes. If the government takes over this warehouse, it’s important to note that governments don’t get taxed on buildings they own. For 2026, $520,000 was collected in tax revenue from that warehouse. This revenue goes toward Orange County, the town of Chester, the village of Chester, the library district, the school district, the fire district, and the ambulance district.
If that $520,000 goes to zero, it would significantly hurt all of the taxpayers here, impacting everyone’s budget and, ultimately, their pocketbooks. This is especially concerning for people who want us to keep budgets and taxes as low as possible. Every dollar helps, and taking even a dollar away in tax revenue means that a dollar must be covered elsewhere through increased taxes or by cutting services, programs, and personnel, which no one wants to see.
Additionally, the broader implication of the facility taking over the warehouse would be inevitable protests. Whether people think protests should or shouldn’t happen, it’s an American right and a constitutional right. This means there will be protests that require law enforcement to keep things orderly and peaceful, ensuring the safety of protesters, counter-protesters, residents, and visitors. Having police present for this also comes with costs—personnel costs, overtime costs, equipment replacement costs, etc.
If it’s anything like we’ve seen nationwide, we might need to consider increasing hiring for the police department, which will come with additional costs. To put it in perspective, the city of Minneapolis had about 600 officers on the force, and after two or three weeks, they were exhausted. In contrast, between the village and the town of Chester, we have about 40 police officers combined, which is minimal compared to larger areas. All of this incurs costs for our Chester residents and taxpayers.
BJ (13:28): So, conceivably, in exchange for ICE setting up what I’m calling a concentration camp, both the town and village might have to cut services just to make up for the lost tax revenue, correct?
Brandon Holdridge (13:39): Yes, either cut services or increase taxes. Those are really the only two options unless some magical way to obtain other revenue appears. I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Development takes time, and new businesses take time to set up. You can’t just snap your fingers and have another warehouse or shopping center built.
BJ (13:49): Right. Let me ask you quickly about the impacts on Walton Lake and sewage. I know the village of Chester is at capacity. Walton Lake is the water supply for the village. What impacts are we looking at from the operation of this facility, if you know?
Brandon Holdridge (14:14): I’m less informed about the water situation, but obviously, the village of Chester relies on Walton Lake for its water supply. That’s a concern for sure. We’ve included that concern in the letters we’ve sent to ICE. We’re worried about whether they will need to draw from that water source and the legalities of them accessing that aquifer.
Regarding sewage, I’m more knowledgeable. Essentially, the proposal is for a warehouse initially meant for just over 100 employees, now being turned into a 1,500-bed detention center. Assuming there are a minimum of 1,500 detainees, plus additional staff, legal counsel, and visitation, we’re talking about a couple of thousand people being housed there in a facility originally designed for just over 100 employees.
The village of Chester is already at capacity for sewage. They have no additional capacity unless a new sewage treatment plant is built. Although one is planned, there have been no details released about who will receive allocations from that plant, which I’ve started to vocalize. Water and sewage are the foundational elements of any civilization, and right now, they’re a significant concern regarding whether this facility will come to Chester.
What Are Our Elected Officials Doing About This?
BJ (15:57): Let me ask you before we discuss tactics for what people can do. As a relatively new elected official, what has it been like to deal with a situation like this suddenly dropped on you by the federal government?
Brandon Holdridge (16:10): I’ve kind of felt like that’s been the norm now. My first year as supervisor was kind of a cleanup year, getting myself situated, and trying to figure out how to solve some financial and budgetary holes in our town. That was my first year.
The second year had a bit of a scandal—a situation I won’t get into—that we had to deal with. Just to clarify, the scandal did not involve me. This year, my third year, this situation with ICE is what was dropped on us.
[Note: The Chester Highway Superintendent, like it is in Monroe, is an elected position. So Town Supervisor Holdridge does not have the ability to fire John Reilly. He can, and has, asked Reilly to resign, which Reilly has not done so at this time.]
Brandon Holdridge: It’s challenging trying to do your job—responding to residents’ concerns, preparing for the next budget, and ensuring the town departments function properly—all while dealing with a situation like this. I was getting around 50 emails a day on average; now I’m receiving between 100 to 150 emails daily.
Calls have increased from a handful to a couple dozen every day. I used to get zero interviews from news outlets, but now I’m getting two or three per week. I take these interviews not to promote myself but to raise awareness about what’s happening here and hopefully encourage someone from ICE or the administration to recognize our push back and reconsider their plans.
If ICE refuses to talk to us, I’ll use a megaphone to get the message out. This situation makes it nearly impossible to handle day-to-day work, and my average 10-hour days have stretched into 12 to 14-hour days as a result.
What Can Residents Do?
BJ (18:40): Many people may not understand that local government is still a full-time job. You are responsible for thousands of people, and I think all local officials are underpaid and underappreciated. Thank you for enduring all of this.
Let’s get into what I believe most people would like to learn more about. What can residents of Chester—whether from the village or the town—do if they oppose the establishment of this concentration camp?
Brandon Holdridge: They should continue to reach out to every elected official in the area that represents Chester and beyond, making their voices heard. First, they should be asking the village of Chester to pass a moratorium on detention centers like Kansas City has. I’m hopeful that the village will consider this, and I’ve sent that information along to them; they indicated they would be reviewing it.
Chester residents and others can call the village and suggest they look into implementing the same measures Kansas City did, which I believe would be productive at this time. Additionally, I’ve heard that Orange County can also pass something similar, so they should advocate for that as well.
I recently posted about some residents who found the email addresses of the realtors and brokers involved. That’s another action people on the ground can take: make their voices heard to those shepherding this deal, urging them to abandon it given its implications
[Note: Screenshot from the Pyramid Brokerage Company & Cushman & Wakefield page advertising 29 Elizabeth Drive as available for lease.]
BJ (20:35): I’m recording this after watching the town of Woodbury debate a letter you sent asking everyone to sign on. Everyone except one MAGA representative, Brandon Calore, signed it. What has been the response to the letter you sent to the other municipalities saying to sign on and join us?
[Note: Local MAGA Bigot, and man State Senator James G. Skoufis spent at least $20,000 on supporting last year, Brandon Calore, can be heard sharing his “thoughts” at 38:17 in the above video. If you see Mr. Skoufis around, ask him if all that money he invested in Mr. Calore was worth it after seeing this.]
Brandon Holdridge (20:56): The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We had 35 Democrats from towns, villages, county legislators, state officials, and federal officials sign on. Additionally, about 13 Republican officials, mostly village and town mayors and supervisors, signed it, along with one county legislator who represents Chester, Glenn Ehlers. We also had five independents, mostly village officials, sign on as well. So overall, it’s been mostly positive.
I have additional names to add because several Ulster County officials were interested in signing on. I just haven’t gotten around to it because I’ve been incredibly busy. They have pledged to sign on, so I need to add those names to the official letter for the records. Only a very few individuals outright said no or didn’t respond because they either didn’t receive the communication or simply chose not to respond. Some have expressed concerns about public perception, despite supporting the exclusion of ICE from Orange County for various reasons.
BJ (22:08): For clarity, has County Executive Neuhaus signed the letter?
Brandon Holdridge (22:11) No, he has not. He said he has specific reasons for not wanting to sign, despite his public stance against the facility coming to fruition. You can ask him directly about that; I don’t want to speak for him.
[Note: As of this writing. Mr. Neuhaus has not replied to questions asking why he did not sign the letter.]
BJ (22:26) My impression from his public statements is that he seems more concerned about the potential danger posed by protesters than about ICE. But that’s a discussion for another time. On the county level for the Democrats: my understanding is that there are two specific actions that can be taken. The first is blocking a potential facility, and the second is ending the contract that currently exists between DHS/ICE and Orange County to jail detainees at the Orange County Jail. Is it true that only County Executive Neuhaus can effectively terminate that contract?
Brandon Holdridge (23:02) Yes, that’s how it was explained to me.
BJ (23:05): And I’ve been told that some Orange County Democrats are ready to sign a bill for an emergency resolution stating “no concentration camp, no new prisons, no detention facilities,” but they need Neuhaus’s support to approve it. Is that accurate?
Brandon Holdridge (23:21) I’m not sure.
BJ (23:22) I ask because on the county level, what should residents who don’t live in Chester but do live in Orange County do? Should they reach out to their legislative representatives and express support for that resolution?
Brandon Holdridge (23:32): Absolutely. They should be reaching out to all their county legislative officials and the county executive’s office. I don’t see any downside to signing that resolution you mentioned. It would only reinforce the majority opinion of the people in Orange County.
The Orange County legislature has already passed a unanimous resolution against the facility coming to Chester, so I don’t see why they can’t do the same countywide with the county executive’s support. That should be a no-brainer, and I’m sure most of them would agree.
So, there’s no reason residents shouldn’t contact their county legislators and the county executive to advocate for them to support something like that.
BJ (24:20): What about the contract between DHS/ICE and Orange County to house detainees?
Brandon Holdridge (24:21): Yes, that contract has been in place for quite a while. I think it has overstayed its welcome. There have been data reports indicating about 4,400 confirmed illegal arrests nationwide, which could be much higher. There have also been reports of around 40 people dying in ICE custody. People are people, regardless of citizenship.
I just don’t see the need for Orange County to continue this relationship and risk its legacy further.
BJ (25:06): Before we wrap up, is there anything else you want people to know about that I didn’t ask?
Brandon Holdridge (25:13): Just one last point: I’ve heard a quote that says, “One person’s death is a tragedy; when multiple deaths occur, they become a statistic.” This loss of humanity can occur easily in the dialogue surrounding immigration.
Alex Pretti and Renee Good’s deaths captured national attention because they were American citizens, and the horror of their deaths resonated with many. However, around 40 people die in ICE custody, while another 20 die in CBP custody, and it’s likely the number is even higher. This becomes a statistic, and people often forget the humanity involved.
Even if someone believes in the need for deportation, we must remember that these individuals are still people. If that’s truly the administration’s will, can’t we find a better way to handle this? For instance, we could improve officer training and screening. I’ve heard that training was cut from six months to just 47 days. This change illustrates the inadequacies in how ICE operations and immigration are being handled.
As someone who worked in Congressman Maloney’s office in constituent services for immigration and passports, I can tell you firsthand that the immigration system in America is broken. It’s been used as a political tool by both parties. Yes, we can do better regarding border control, but the core issue lies in the resources allocated for our courts and the legal processes for entering the country.
Some cases I dealt with lasted 10, 15, or even 20 years, with individuals trying to navigate the system properly. We are a nation of immigrants; shouldn’t we have a better immigration system in place? This would help prevent individuals from feeling they must take desperate measures and then get demonized for simply trying to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
Congress is entirely broken right now. Someone needs to step in and advocate for legislation that resolves these issues. The nation was once engaged in productive debates about legal pathways for Dreamers, DACA, and other topics. Yet we’ve strayed far from those discussions.
BJ (29:27): The majority of Americans agree with you—around 70%—across party lines. It’s really just a small minority, about 30 to 35%, that holds extreme views. But that’s a discussion for another time.
P.S. The next stand-up event for Hands Off Hudson Valley is this Saturday, February 28th, at 1pm at the corner of Lake Street and 17M in the Village of Monroe. If you’re interested in protesting the placement of a concentration camp in Chester, you’re welcome to join us.
Below is the most recent email sent out from the group. (Disclosure: I am on the Steering Committee for HOHV)
Greetings friends,
Yes, latest forecast is for 50 balmy degrees this Saturday, so let’s take full advantage:
Standout, 1:00—2:00pm, same place, same station: corner 17M and Lake Street in Monroe.
1) QUESTION: Is ICE”s plan for the Chester warehouse still on your mind? No? Because you naturally believe various press reports in which an (unnamed) ICE spokesperson claims the report of an ICE purchase was false? So many contradictory statements, so much confusion sown that it may well be a deliberate strategy. One need only read through this piece about the warehouse in Roxbury NJ to see the pattern of lies---with the ultimate horrible outcome. WE MUST STAY VIGILANT. More to come….
ICE has purchased N.J. warehouse for use as a detention center, officials confirm - nj.com
2) UPCOMING NATIONWIDE “NO KINGS” DAY: Saturday, March 28th. We will be standing out at the usual time, 1-2, which fits perfectly for those who wish to make a day of roving to other regional standouts, e.g.,: 12-2 Newburgh, 2-4 Warwick, 1-3 Goshen. More info to come as the day draws closer.
So, as you mark your calendar, you may also mark these dates of our Monroe standouts through spring--- ah, that glorious word, SPRING – may it spring us into renewed action: March 14 & 28 / April 11 & 25 / May 9 & 23 / June 13 & 27
3) Speaking of “action,” we hope to hear at the Monroe Town Board meeting of March 2nd that the Board adopts resolutions in support of the MELT and NY4ALL Acts before our state legislature. We’re happy to have brought draft resolutions for their consideration!
4) Speaking of policies to protect immigrants (and us all) from ICE, we note that the Newburgh Board of Ed has instituted a policy for their schools. We need to follow their lead. Carol is tossing around ideas, seeking input---send her an email or text, if just to say you support the initiative: (Ask BJ for Email) / (ask BJ for #)
5) SOLIDARITY SIGNS: This initiative has taken off. NEEDED: a few more individuals to distribute these to shop areas in Monroe. Signs and instructions provided----simply reply to this email, or call Nora at (ask BJ for #)
6) Last but not least, give yourself a pat on the back for standing out, and for every other action you take--- phoning & emailing legislators, included. We’re proud to stand tall together with you and thank you for continuing to energize us. If you’ve noticed some of the professionally created signs, these are the inspiration and labor of Evan, who stands out with us and to whom we are most grateful!
SEE YOU SATURDAY--- and remember: we do not interact with passing motorists. Bullies seek reaction, so resist succumbing!