Five days after confirming a warehouse purchase in Chester, New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has retracted the statement, calling it an unauthorized error. The 29 Elizabeth Drive property, a 401,746 square foot warehouse in Chester Industrial Park, was initially reported as acquired by the Department of Homeland Security.

Chester Town Supervisor Brandon Holdridge expressed relief but maintained vigilance, stating the community will continue opposing any ICE facility in the area. The property, previously sold in 2008 for $16,830,000 to IEP Chester LLC, remains under the same ownership. Local officials, including a bipartisan coalition of 53 leaders, have cited environmental concerns, sewage capacity limitations, and restrictive covenants in their opposition.

Despite the retraction, ICE reiterated plans to expand detention facilities and conduct nationwide arrests. The incident has heightened anxiety in Orange County, where residents have protested in subzero temperatures and packed local meetings. The reversal follows Washington Post reporting about a potential Chester detention center and recent discovery of an ICE administrative office in New Windsor. While the purchase claim proved false, community leaders view it as evidence of ICE's intentions and have vowed continued resistance to any facility placement in Chester.